self-replicating
adjective
self-rep·li·cat·ing
ˌself-ˈre-plə-ˌkā-tiŋ 
: reproducing itself autonomously
DNA is a self-replicating molecule
Examples of self-replicating in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
From an engineering perspective, this process can be conceptualized as a self-replicating firmware update that spreads through a network of nodes; however, the network in this case is a population, and the firmware update is a genomic modification.
—
Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 27 Feb. 2026
Security researchers have already predicted the rise of this kind of self-replicating adversarial prompt among networks of AI agents.
—ArsTechnica, 3 Feb. 2026
Technosignatures of self-replicating probes in the solar system.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
And, in a nod to nanotech panic, Season 2's big bad was a self-replicating cloud of drone arms controlled by The Human Centipede's Dieter Laser.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2025
These students proved that generosity, once ignited, becomes self-replicating.
—Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
The notorious Sandworm unit within Russia's GRU military intelligence agency, for instance, has triggered unprecedented blackouts and released destructive, self-replicating code.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 14 Apr. 2025
View 3 Images Cue the self-replicating robot revolution: Apptronik's humanoid Apollo robot is gearing up to assist in manufacturing copies of itself.
—New Atlas, 26 Feb. 2025
Those are the accouterments of an outstandingly dressed Black man, a dandy, to be sure, but that gives way to André centering himself in the video–self-replicating and standing in as seemingly minor characters.
—Julian Randall, Essence, 25 Nov. 2024
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Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 27 Feb. 2026
Security researchers have already predicted the rise of this kind of self-replicating adversarial prompt among networks of AI agents.
—ArsTechnica, 3 Feb. 2026
Technosignatures of self-replicating probes in the solar system.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
And, in a nod to nanotech panic, Season 2's big bad was a self-replicating cloud of drone arms controlled by The Human Centipede's Dieter Laser.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2025
These students proved that generosity, once ignited, becomes self-replicating.
—Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
The notorious Sandworm unit within Russia's GRU military intelligence agency, for instance, has triggered unprecedented blackouts and released destructive, self-replicating code.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 14 Apr. 2025
View 3 Images Cue the self-replicating robot revolution: Apptronik's humanoid Apollo robot is gearing up to assist in manufacturing copies of itself.
—New Atlas, 26 Feb. 2025
Those are the accouterments of an outstandingly dressed Black man, a dandy, to be sure, but that gives way to André centering himself in the video–self-replicating and standing in as seemingly minor characters.
—Julian Randall, Essence, 25 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Self-replicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-replicating. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
self-replicating
adjective
self-rep·li·cat·ing
-ˈrep-lə-ˌkāt-iŋ
: reproducing itself autonomously
DNA is a self-replicating molecule
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