self-inflicted
adjective
self-in·flict·ed
ˌself-in-ˈflik-təd 
: inflicted or caused by oneself
a self-inflicted wound
His staff problems are self-inflicted, the product of his poor judgment and bad choices.—
The Guardian (United Kingdom)
The Guardian (United Kingdom)Examples of self-inflicted in a Sentence
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While some of the fissures are self-inflicted, like recent threats of tariffs against the European Union and higher duties on steel imports, a fresh set of court rulings questioning the president’s tariffs-granting authority now hangs over his entire push to reset U.S. trade relations.
—Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 3 June 2025
If Arsenal’s squad was too small, or imbalanced, that was in part self-inflicted: Arteta was involved in the conversations where it was decided to send Fabio Vieira out on loan, for example.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Given the infant’s current developmental level, medical officials said the injuries could not have been self-inflicted or caused by normal handling, the warrant affidavit said.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2025
That optimism is conditioned on Musk actually fixing the problems (many of them self-inflicted) plaguing the EV maker while also delivering on his promise to launch an autonomous robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in the coming weeks.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
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Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 3 June 2025
If Arsenal’s squad was too small, or imbalanced, that was in part self-inflicted: Arteta was involved in the conversations where it was decided to send Fabio Vieira out on loan, for example.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Given the infant’s current developmental level, medical officials said the injuries could not have been self-inflicted or caused by normal handling, the warrant affidavit said.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2025
That optimism is conditioned on Musk actually fixing the problems (many of them self-inflicted) plaguing the EV maker while also delivering on his promise to launch an autonomous robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in the coming weeks.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-inflicted
Cite this Entry
“Self-inflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-inflicted. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
self-inflicted
adjective
self-in·flict·ed
-in-ˈflik-təd
: inflicted by oneself
a self-inflicted wound
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