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

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Still, the Ghanaian British actress maintains a lot of empathy for her character, identifying her self-destructive patterns as a wounded cry for help. — Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026 The limits of burying the bad news Each of these interventions, whether reckless, self-destructive trade barriers, massive military invasions, or offensive divisive speeches, soaks up attention. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 The family harbors dark secrets, and the girls themselves turn to self-destructive behaviors. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 Another chapter digs into Ronson’s rocky friendship with the comedy writer Graham Linehan, whose involvement in the gender-critical movement led him to act out online in ways that Ronson reads as self-destructive. — Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-destructive

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for self-destructive

See All Rhymes for self-destructive

Browse Nearby Words

self-destruction
self-destructive
self-determination
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-destructive. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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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
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