death wish

noun

1. desire for one's own death or for the death of another.
2. Psychiatry. a suicidal desire, manifested by passivity, withdrawal, and absorption in nihilistic thoughts, that may eventually lead to suicidal behavior.

death wish

noun

1. See Thanatos
   (in Freudian psychology) the desire for self-annihilation See also Thanatos

Word History and Origins

Origin of death wish¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

“Bernie Goetz is Charles Bronson in Death Wish,” said Sliwa.

From The Daily Beast

Racked with guilt, she has become a drunken mess who seems to have a death wish.

From The Daily Beast

Westernization is the dominant factor in the significant growth of death-wish believers among Muslim women.

From The Daily Beast

In 1980, conservatives were said to have a “death wish” when they nominated Reagan for president.

From The Daily Beast

This death-wish variety of moral preening runs throughout American history.

From The Daily Beast

It creates the death wish toward all who thwart our interests or who may in the future do so.

From Project Gutenberg

Let us continue with the removal or death-wish which most frequently can be traced back to the unbounded egoism of the dreamer.

From Project Gutenberg

A much worse confusion seems to underlie the assurance that back of every dream one finds the "death-clause," or death-wish.

From Project Gutenberg

A jet was sent out, loaded with Leaguemen who had proved immune to the guru death-wish and all armed to the teeth.

From Project Gutenberg

In other cases the death wish, while obvious in the manifest dream content, appears absurd and may cause the patient some anxiety.

From Project Gutenberg