self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm 

: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism

Although most cutters are young women who have been emotionally, sexually, or physically abused as children, [Marilee] Strong's research shows that this specific type of self-harm also appears in other groups.

—Maria Simson et al.

called also self-injury, self-mutilation

self-harm intransitive verb

self-harmed; self-harming; self-harms

teenagers who self-harm

Examples of self-harm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So, the self-harm figures reported in the study may underestimate the issue. —New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2025

Risk signals warn of serious concerns like self-harm or suicidal thoughts. —Sarah Scott, Parents, 24 Mar. 2025

Research shows clergy suffer from high rates of burnout and often struggle with thoughts of suicide and self-harm. —Katia Riddle, NPR, 23 Mar. 2025

What drives people at the elite level to suffer to the point of self-harm, permanent impairment or worse? —Tim Genske, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-harm

• alarm
• disarm
• forearm
• gendarme
• nonfarm
• rearm
• arm
• charm
• farm
• harm
• firearm
• underarm

Kids Definition

self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm 

: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism