self-harm
noun
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism
Although most cutters are young women who have been emotionally, sexually, or physically abused as children, [Marilee] Strong's research shows that this specific type of self-harm also appears in other groups.—
Maria Simson et al.
Maria Simson et al.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
The group targeted vulnerable people, specifically children, online and used violent tactics that were designed to induce self-harm, a criminal complaint states.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 1 May 2025
In his 2024 book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt presents a sobering picture: around 2012, a steep rise in anxiety, depression, and self-harm among adolescents began, particularly among girls.
—Mary Johnstone-Louis, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The new Canadian government ought to find inspiration in that history, rather than rummage through the self-harming choices of the Pierre Trudeau years.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2025
Chaos ensues when Fred Armisen's auctioneer unveils the painting, prompting everyone else in the room to shout, vomit, and self-harm, including Samberg's then-castmates Bobby Moynihan, Bill Hader, and Kristen Wiig.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 23 Apr. 2025
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Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 1 May 2025
In his 2024 book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt presents a sobering picture: around 2012, a steep rise in anxiety, depression, and self-harm among adolescents began, particularly among girls.
—Mary Johnstone-Louis, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The new Canadian government ought to find inspiration in that history, rather than rummage through the self-harming choices of the Pierre Trudeau years.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2025
Chaos ensues when Fred Armisen's auctioneer unveils the painting, prompting everyone else in the room to shout, vomit, and self-harm, including Samberg's then-castmates Bobby Moynihan, Bill Hader, and Kristen Wiig.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-harm
Cite this Entry
“Self-harm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-harm. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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self-harm
noun
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism
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