self-sabotage

Or self sab·o·tage

[self-sab-uh-tahzh]

noun

1. the act or habit of behaving in a way that interferes directly with one’s own goals, well-being, relationships, etc., as by comfort eating, procrastination, or lashing out at others.

   If a line worker physically assaults a supervisor, that’s self-sabotage, as there’s every likelihood of dismissal followed by criminal prosecution.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to behave, especially habitually or compulsively, in a way that interferes directly with one’s own goals, well-being, relationships, etc..

   She’ll do OK for a while, and then all of a sudden she’ll self-sabotage by procrastinating and making excuses, and her dreams come to a screeching halt—again.

   Your husband is self-sabotaging the relationship with his gambling.

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-sabotage¹

First recorded in 1930–35