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

Example Sentences

With Lindsay Lohan, we were watching the horror show of self-sabotage, and grappled with our role in feeding into it.

From The Daily Beast

This is common behavior before such an event, according to Mugianis, part of an attempt to “self sabotage.”

From The Daily Beast

And it must get us to root for survivors who often bicker or self-sabotage when we just want them to move forward.

From The Daily Beast

Only an act of self-sabotage can restore a sense of authenticity.

From The Daily Beast