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

Just as many negative behaviors are self-reinforcing, we often view related positive behaviors as more trouble than they're worth.

—Colleen Dunn Bates

Examples of self-reinforcing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Actions by either side that are intended as limited coercion, signaling, or leverage might be misread, thus triggering a self-reinforcing action-reaction cycle in which each side’s effort to restore deterrence instead erodes it. — Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2026

Knowing this, the study’s authors surmise these betel nut habits were self-reinforcing. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026

By pairing early career adaptability with executive-level discernment, organizations build a self-reinforcing engine of intelligent talent density. — Neda Nia, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026

However, people with diabetes lose more magnesium in their urine, lowering their levels and further worsening insulin resistance in this self-reinforcing loop. — Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-reinforcing

• crowdsourcing
• reinforcing
• coursing
• forcing
• sourcing
• discoursing
• divorcing
• endorsing
• enforcing
• indorsing
• outsourcing