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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The descent into foolish and self-destructive groupthink provides the drama. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026 Buck and Aikman have been the gold standard for announcing teams during their 25 years together, and breaking them up seems self-destructive. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026 The actor praised Chris Rock’s writing as fearless, describing her character as contradictory, self-destructive and prone to terrible decisions. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026 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 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 29 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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