self-sabotage

American  

[self-sab-uh-tahzh] / ˈsɛlfˈsæb əˌtɑʒ /

Or self sabotage

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.

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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.

Etymology

Origin of self-sabotage

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

The team that fell to the visiting Niners is what these defending Super Bowl winners were all year—full of talent, but routinely underwhelming, especially on offense, where they were capable of excitement one moment, and dull self-sabotage the next.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even in Brussels, it’s unusual for a single policy move to create so much economic self-sabotage and diplomatic harm at one go.

From The Wall Street Journal

Over the woozy guitars of “Losing Myself,” she sings about disappearing into a toxic relationship — “I’m just a heart for your arrow” — while “Happy With You” contemplates her reflex for self-sabotage.

From Los Angeles Times

Finally, Hegseth’s personal style creates a special layer of self-sabotage.

From Slate

Any form of work stoppage would be a disastrous act of self-sabotage.

From The Wall Street Journal