self-reinforcing
adjective
self-re·in·forc·ing
ˌself-ˌrē-ən-ˈfȯr-siŋ 
: tending or serving to strengthen itself : reinforcing itself
According to this thinking, a self-reinforcing feedback loop—bigger brains, better tools, more food—drove forward the process of human evolution.—
Michael Rothschild
Michael RothschildJust as many negative behaviors are self-reinforcing, we often view related positive behaviors as more trouble than they're worth.—Colleen Dunn Bates
Colleen Dunn BatesExamples of self-reinforcing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Producer organizations are cost-effective, demand-driven, and self-reinforcing.
—Shobha Shetty, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
What begins as a policy response to fiscal strain can quickly become a self-reinforcing dynamic that leads to hyperinflation.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Apr. 2026
Left alone, this combination can become self-reinforcing, with more capital funding more labor displacement, which in turn generates more returns to capital, which funds more automation.
—Ravi Kumar S, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Ramp is executing a similar playbook and scaling rapidly with an ever-growing (and self-reinforcing) product suite.
—Alex Lazarow, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
One can reason through the sort of self-reinforcing feedback loop this establishes.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
In this way, inflation can become self-reinforcing.
—Raghuram Rajan, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
The securitization cycle has placed Iran, the region, and NATO countries, particularly the United States, in a complex and self-reinforcing predicament.
—Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2025
Scientists warn that massive, self-reinforcing changes could be set off, having devastating impacts around the world.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 19 Nov. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Shobha Shetty, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
What begins as a policy response to fiscal strain can quickly become a self-reinforcing dynamic that leads to hyperinflation.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Apr. 2026
Left alone, this combination can become self-reinforcing, with more capital funding more labor displacement, which in turn generates more returns to capital, which funds more automation.
—Ravi Kumar S, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Ramp is executing a similar playbook and scaling rapidly with an ever-growing (and self-reinforcing) product suite.
—Alex Lazarow, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
One can reason through the sort of self-reinforcing feedback loop this establishes.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
In this way, inflation can become self-reinforcing.
—Raghuram Rajan, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
The securitization cycle has placed Iran, the region, and NATO countries, particularly the United States, in a complex and self-reinforcing predicament.
—Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2025
Scientists warn that massive, self-reinforcing changes could be set off, having devastating impacts around the world.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 19 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-reinforcing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-reinforcing. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
