self-re·in·forc·ing
| \ ˌself-ˌrē-ən-ˈfȯr-siŋ,
\
\
Definition of self-reinforcing
: 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
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More About self-reinforcing
Statistics for self-reinforcing
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Self-reinforcing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-reinforcing. Accessed 26 Sep. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Farm Idioms Quiz
-
- What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share self-reinforcing
Time Traveler for self-reinforcing
The first known use of self-reinforcing was in 1884
See more words from the same year