as in self-annihilation
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Recent Examples of self-flagellation
Every year on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar and the same day as the Battle of Karbala, Shiite Muslims inside and outside of Iran observe Ashura and commemorate the slaying of Hussain by reenacting his death and performing self-flagellation, among other rituals.
—
Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
The same could be said for Howe’s lacerating self-flagellation afterwards.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
At the same time, invisibility has come as a relief, insofar as my vanity always kept company with self-consciousness and self-flagellation.
—Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
The technique was initially practiced alone, but in 1260 a hermit in Perugia launched a movement, and organized processions of mass self-flagellation broke out across Italy.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Ever since Kamala Harris lost the election, the Democratic Party has been on a nationwide self-flagellation tour.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
But if the director was already critical of his country beforehand, the place is in such a dire state right now that his only response this time seems to be a form of cinematic self-flagellation.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025
Rublev, 27 and the men’s world No. 9, is prone to fits of self-flagellation — often hammering at his body with his racket.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
The self-flagellation is uncomfortable and dark, and the instrumental’s whorl of warped voices, sax melodies, and bass lines intensifies the feeling that he is trapped within his choices.
17.
—Stephen Kearse, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
Eric Lob, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
The same could be said for Howe’s lacerating self-flagellation afterwards.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
At the same time, invisibility has come as a relief, insofar as my vanity always kept company with self-consciousness and self-flagellation.
—Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
The technique was initially practiced alone, but in 1260 a hermit in Perugia launched a movement, and organized processions of mass self-flagellation broke out across Italy.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Ever since Kamala Harris lost the election, the Democratic Party has been on a nationwide self-flagellation tour.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
But if the director was already critical of his country beforehand, the place is in such a dire state right now that his only response this time seems to be a form of cinematic self-flagellation.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025
Rublev, 27 and the men’s world No. 9, is prone to fits of self-flagellation — often hammering at his body with his racket.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
The self-flagellation is uncomfortable and dark, and the instrumental’s whorl of warped voices, sax melodies, and bass lines intensifies the feeling that he is trapped within his choices.
17.
—Stephen Kearse, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-flagellation
Noun
-
The will toward self-annihilation is a familiar human characteristic.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Her self-annihilation is grisly and impossible to misinterpret as a final repudiation of her role in the HMS Courageous bombing and, until Grace announces she’d like Hal to be her vice-president, is the most intense and far-reaching twist of the episode.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Texas Democrats got to enjoy the glow of a surprise victory in Tarrant County for just about a day before the party reverted to its uncommon capacity for self-immolation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
If Trump were to persist, Denmark could trigger NATO’s Article 5 mutual-defense pact, and then the unthinkable could occur: American soldiers firing on Europeans while Russian President Vladimir Putin’s dream of NATO’s self-immolation is thoroughly realized.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Whether the motivations are development, altruism, returns or security, there is a role and reward for putting energy and resources into this effort.—
Ajaypal Banga,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The Terms of Service of Anthropic’s defective altruism will never outweigh the safety, the readiness, or the lives of American troops on the battlefield.—
Tina Nguyen,
The Verge,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Takeru Satoh portrayed a counterpart who reframes revenge as self-sacrifice, while Park Min Young’s Kang Ji-won redefined the K-revenge heroine by reclaiming her fate.—
Partner Content,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Growth comes from mutual accountability, not self-sacrifice.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For Liu to resuscitate figure skating as a mature, 20-year-old woman with magnanimity for her competitors is a remarkable feat—a single athlete transforming her sport in a single performance.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Lincoln himself was famous for his genuine magnanimity toward immigrants.—
Mark B. Pohlad,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His investment in human connection through generosity became his highest-performing sales channel.—
Chris Schembra,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2026
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The fallen soldiers, ages 20 to 42, earned praise from families for devotion to service, generosity and commitment to others.—
Hannah Fingerhut,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-flagellation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-flagellation. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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