self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm How to pronounce self-harm (audio)
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism
An acute change in mood that persists for weeks or is associated with thoughts of self-harm should not be ignored.—John Williamson

called also self-injury, self-mutilation

self-harm intransitive verb
self-harmed; self-harming; self-harms
teenagers who self-harm

Examples of self-harm 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 rise of self-harm influencers—people for whom demonstrating their distress online has become a source of income and validation—is a terrifying new development. — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026 Youth who reported unstable housing situations had twice the odds of self-harm and suicidal ideation as those who didn’t. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 21 Oct. 2026 Kentucky claims that chatbots encouraged self-harm, while Pennsylvania claims chatbots illegally posed as licensed doctors. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026 Other studies and public health experts warn of rising cases of bankruptcy, addiction and self-harm. — Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-harm

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-harm was in 1983

Rhymes for self-harm

See All Rhymes for self-harm

Browse Nearby Words

self-hardening steel
self-harm
self-hate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-harm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-harm. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

self-harm

noun
ˌself-ˈhärm How to pronounce self-harm (audio)
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism
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