self-punishment

noun

self-pun·​ish·​ment ˌself-ˈpə-nish-mənt How to pronounce self-punishment (audio)
: the act of punishing oneself
Leaving early to train for an Ironman triathlon—a masterwork of self-punishment—is, however, deeply respected.Kyle Smith
Life was hard enough on me without adding the burden of additional self-punishment.Ann Finnie

Examples of self-punishment 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.
There was a quality of self-punishment to these actions. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2024 The effort to exonerate herself in her own mind leads her to rituals of exertion and self-punishment. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2024 Sure, the average man probably wouldn’t eat an entire bar of soap in the middle of a group hang as a form of self-punishment for violating bro code, but who among us doesn’t want to be accepted? David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2024 As Chung seeks a way to grieve without self-punishment, this open-hearted, unflinching account will be a boon to others. Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-punishment was circa 1586

Dictionary Entries Near self-punishment

Cite this Entry

“Self-punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-punishment. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

self-punishment

noun
self-pun·​ish·​ment -ˈpən-ish-mənt How to pronounce self-punishment (audio)
: punishment of oneself
masochistic self-punishment
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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