self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm How to pronounce self-harm (audio)
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism
An acute change in mood that persists for weeks or is associated with thoughts of self-harm should not be ignored.—John Williamson

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
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.
OpenAI, which has faced lawsuits that allege their chatbot ChatGPT provided teens with self-harm content, expressed support for the bill on Monday. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Youth and parents linked their loss of care to spikes in anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, with stress radiating through entire families. — Dr. Sj Job, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 Safer, age-appropriate content controls, including stronger safeguards against bullying, content promoting eating disorders, and content related to suicide and self-harm. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 Aside from losing blood while appearing to engage in self-harm, Hilton also suffered broken bones after taking a few falls that day, Tom revealed. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-harm

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-harm was in 1983

Rhymes for self-harm

See All Rhymes for self-harm

Browse Nearby Words

self-hardening steel
self-harm
self-hate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-harm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-harm. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

self-harm

noun
ˌself-ˈhärm How to pronounce self-harm (audio)
: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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