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 school said that Carranza had previously expressed thoughts of self-harm to a cousin, who informed her mother.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
These political actions affect a set of young people who already had much higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide attempts than their nontransgender peers.
—Tyler Santora, Scientific American, 25 Feb. 2025
Feingold, who has been in practice for more than 30 years specializing in women’s reproductive health, believes the hospital should have given Pike a mental health evaluation after her confession of feeling depressed and self-harm at Destinii’s birth.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2025
Yet harm to economic competitors might be outweighed by self-harm to the American system.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-harm
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David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
These political actions affect a set of young people who already had much higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide attempts than their nontransgender peers.
—Tyler Santora, Scientific American, 25 Feb. 2025
Feingold, who has been in practice for more than 30 years specializing in women’s reproductive health, believes the hospital should have given Pike a mental health evaluation after her confession of feeling depressed and self-harm at Destinii’s birth.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2025
Yet harm to economic competitors might be outweighed by self-harm to the American system.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 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 9 Mar. 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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