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.
Other studies and public health experts warn of rising cases of bankruptcy, addiction and self-harm. — Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2026 Boys may exhibit more anger and aggression, whereas girls might demonstrate sadness, depression and self-harm. — Nikki R Wooten, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 Its restrictions cover suicide and self-harm promotion, eating disorder encouragement, body shaming, non-consensual intimate imagery, harassment, and animal cruelty. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026 Testers spent up to an hour discussing suicide, self-harm or eating disorders on more than a dozen new accounts registered to 13- to 17-year-olds. — Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 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
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