self-medicate

verb

self-med·​i·​cate ˌself-ˈme-di-ˌkāt How to pronounce self-medicate (audio)
self-medicated; self-medicating; self-medicates
1
transitive : to treat (something) by self-medication
people who attempt to self-medicate depression
2
intransitive : to treat oneself by self-medication
self-medicated with analgesics to control arthritic pain
These courts are a lifeline for veterans, many of whom struggle with post-traumatic stress and brain injury when they return home after serving, often using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate.Claire Handscombe

Examples of self-medicate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Because alcohol is a depressant, many people use it as a way to self-medicate and temporarily manage mania. Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Peter’s perspectives, for example, are choppy and frantic, punctuated by anxious thought spirals as he self-medicates, pontificates and twists with self-loathing. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024 Unable to dance, she self-medicates with pills bought from a local busker and develops an addiction to painkillers. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2024 Addiction often results from attempts to self-medicate the symptoms—which is why treating the underlying trauma can be essential to a cure. Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for self-medicate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-medicate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-medicate was in 1902

Dictionary Entries Near self-medicate

Cite this Entry

“Self-medicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-medicate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

self-medicate

verb
self-med·​i·​cate -ˈmed-ə-ˌkāt How to pronounce self-medicate (audio)
self-medicated; self-medicating

transitive verb

: to treat by self-medication
the patient had attempted to self-medicate depression

intransitive verb

: to treat oneself by self-medication
patients with dental pain often self-medicate with analgesics
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!