as in self-annihilation
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Recent Examples of self-flagellation
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
That leads to the kind of regret and self-flagellation in your letter, and the spiral begins anew.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025
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
That leads to the kind of regret and self-flagellation in your letter, and the spiral begins anew.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 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
-
Feeding people is more than simple altruism.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
They’d been drawn by the pay, but also by a sense of altruism and imagined kinship.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This Full Moon asks you to choose sustainability over self-sacrifice.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Growth comes from mutual accountability, not self-sacrifice.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Its peril lies in global fragmentation, weakened alliances, and a China that pockets newfound influence without offering openness or magnanimity in return.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
That is not usually a magnanimity of spirit commensurate with the extreme type of non-empathetic person.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Gem State’s generosity is supported by above-average volunteer rates and neighborliness, according to My Counselor.—
Hali Smith,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Feb. 2026
-
These lineages of genius and generosity, our inheritances of these epistemologies and practices may soon become our only defense, our only offense, and our only wealth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-flagellation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-flagellation. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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