suicidal ideation
noun
: the act of thinking about or a state of preoccupation with ending one's own life : the act of considering or planning suicide
He had been hospitalized several times for depression and suicidal ideation: the previous summer he had checked himself into a hospital in Laramie.—
Melanie Thernstrom
Melanie ThernstromAlleviating gender dysphoria and aligning gender expression with identity through these treatments can lower stress, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and significantly lessen suicidal ideation.—Orion Rummler
Orion RummlerExamples of suicidal ideation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The sheriff's office previously said Olmos had a history of suicidal ideation and depression, noting there were no signs of foul play.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Following the heroic rescue, officials emphasized the importance of asking for help — and checking on those who are struggling with suicidal ideation.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Hilaria revealed that her husband had been experiencing suicidal ideation during another episode of The Baldwins.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025
The risk of suicidal ideation is also significantly higher among those with OCD compared to the general population.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
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Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Following the heroic rescue, officials emphasized the importance of asking for help — and checking on those who are struggling with suicidal ideation.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
Hilaria revealed that her husband had been experiencing suicidal ideation during another episode of The Baldwins.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025
The risk of suicidal ideation is also significantly higher among those with OCD compared to the general population.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suicidal ideation
Cite this Entry
“Suicidal ideation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suicidal%20ideation. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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suicidal ideation
noun
: the act of thinking about or a state of preoccupation with ending one's own life : the act of considering or planning suicide
Depression appears to be one of the strongest predictors of suicidal ideation but does not appear to distinguish those who have attempted suicide from those who have experienced suicidal ideation without attempts.—E. David Klonsky et al., Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
E. David Klonsky et al., Annual Review of Clinical PsychologyBurnout among medical students seems to be an important predictor of subsequent suicidal ideation even without symptoms of depression.—Liselotte N. Dyrbye et al., Annals of Internal Medicine
Liselotte N. Dyrbye et al., Annals of Internal MedicineLove words? Need even more definitions?
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