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

Studies have seen connections between loneliness and self-harm, including suicide—and men, Way pointed out, have higher rates of suicide than women. —Matthew Schnipper, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025

Under the consent decree, the jail will end the use of isolation for individuals vulnerable to self-harm and ensure that children with disabilities detained at the facility receive appropriate special education services. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025

According to lawsuits filed in Texas and Florida against the company, its chatbots have encouraged children to engage in self-harm and violence against their parents, and allegedly contributed to 14-year-old dying by suicide. —Wired Staff, WIRED, 30 Dec. 2024

Their query might be a sign of potential self-harm. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 Dec. 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