self-destructive

adjective

self-de·​struc·​tive ˌself-di-ˈstrək-tiv How to pronounce self-destructive (audio)
: acting or tending to harm or destroy oneself
self-destructive behavior
also : suicidal
a self-destructive impulse
self-destructiveness noun

Examples of self-destructive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This mix of guilt, horror, and apprehension is exactly the self-destructive bent of masochistic progressives. Armond White, National Review, 20 Mar. 2024 One hypothesis is that this self-destructive behavior, by nourishing the mother of his children, could simply be the optimal evolutionary strategy. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 Fewer episodes and less time spent on the self-destructive café manager would have kept the storyline squarely on Rocco’s psyche. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 In the 14-episode series, Mod plays a brilliant yet self-destructive working-class writer who falls in love with wayward posh boy Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall) on their final day at university in 1988. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 4 Mar. 2024 Here are 10 squads seemingly relegated to the sidelines during this year’s silly season, their impactful outlooks ranked from insubstantial to those seemingly staring at self-destructive maneuvers going into the 2024 campaign (note: salary cap projections courtesy Over The Cap): 10. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Like Al Pacino’s self-destructive character, Saddam and his sons were destined to meet violent ends; the only question was when and how. Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Unabashedly sporting the most inauspicious of titles, a three-hour running time and a logline that features terminally ill elders and self-destructive descendants, German feature Dying (Sterben) looks like a hard sell on paper. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024 How to resolve the uncomfortable ones, transform the self-destructive ones, and nurture the, well, nurturing ones. Nell Frizzell, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-destructive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-destructive was in 1641

Dictionary Entries Near self-destructive

Cite this Entry

“Self-destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-destructive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

self-destructive

adjective
self-de·​struc·​tive -ˈstrək-tiv How to pronounce self-destructive (audio)
: acting or tending to harm or destroy oneself
self-destructive behavior
also : suicidal
self-destructively adverb
self-destructiveness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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