self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm 

: 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.

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

All this comes with depression, anxiety and even self-harming behaviors. —Shannon Carpenter, CNN, 30 June 2024

Nearly a third of all incidents are either unintentional or due to self-harm, but in children under five the cause is almost always unintentional. —Dr. Cassie Stegall, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2024

Those high numbers are due in part to both self-harm and suicidal ideation being grouped together, but reflect larger population-wide patterns. —Will Daniel, Fortune, 26 June 2024

In 2015, Padalecki launched a T-shirt campaign to benefit To Write Love on Her Arms, a non-profit that helps those struggling with depression, addiction and self-harm. —Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm 

: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism