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self-defeating

American  
[self-di-fee-ting, self-] / ˈsɛlf dɪˈfi tɪŋ, ˌsɛlf- /

adjective

  1. serving to frustrate, thwart, etc., one's own intention or interests.

    His behavior was certainly self-defeating.


self-defeating British  

adjective

  1. (of a plan, action, etc) unable to achieve the intended result

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But he immediately added that riots were “socially destructive and self-defeating.”

From The Wall Street Journal

At the time, Streeting said suggestions from Sir Keir's allies that he was seeking to challenge the leadership were "self-defeating nonsense".

From BBC

It’s an understandable reaction, but it might be self-defeating.

From Barron's

It’s an understandable reaction, but it might be self-defeating.

From Barron's

Brian Strow, an economist and dean of the business school at Florida’s Palm Beach Atlantic University, told me by email that cutting off a natural supply of the world’s top innovators and thinkers is self-defeating.

From The Wall Street Journal