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)

Examples of self-inflicted in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The autopsy report for a Los Alamos National Laboratory worker who was found dead in a remote national forest earlier this year determined she was fatally shot in the head — but could not conclude whether the wound was self-inflicted. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

The season will find Lee teaming with a public defender, played by Betty Gilpin, on a case while also dealing with complications in his own life, some of them self-inflicted. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

What is causing the disruption Most microbiome trouble is self-inflicted through skincare habits. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026

But that drastic drought among plenty, in the metro that ranks among the world’s wealthiest, is almost totally self-inflicted. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-inflicted

• contradicted
• interdicted
• unrestricted
• addicted
• afflicted
• conflicted
• constricted
• convicted
• depicted
• evicted
• inflicted
• predicted

Kids Definition

self-inflicted

adjective

self-in·​flict·​ed

ˌsel-fin-ˈflik-təd

: inflicted by oneself

a self-inflicted wound

Medical Definition

self-inflicted

adjective

self-in·​flict·​ed -in-ˈflik-təd 

: inflicted by oneself

a self-inflicted wound