self-destruction

American  

[self-di-struhk-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlf dɪˈstrʌk ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. the destruction or ruination of oneself or one's life.

2. suicide.

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self-destruction British  

noun

1. the act or an instance of self-destructing

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Etymology

Origin of self-destruction

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

We have written a bit about Mace and the self-destruction she’ll put herself through to satisfy an unhealthy need for camera time.

From Slate • Jun. 13, 2026

Europe’s savage self-destruction reunited techne and themis: the technologies of the Industrial Revolution and the ideologies of the French Revolution.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Cultural stagnation is a form of willed self-destruction at the popular level.

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2025

"And a lot of voices came into my head. Criticism, self-destruction, labelling yourself not good enough. All of those negative things made it harder for me to perform."

From BBC • Jul. 24, 2025

It seemed to me that for the Negro to try to save himself he would have to forget himself and try to save a confused, materialistic nation from its own drift toward self-destruction.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright