self-laceration

noun

self-lac·​er·​a·​tion ˌself-ˌla-sə-ˈrā-shən 

plural self-lacerations

: the act or an instance of lacerating oneself: such as

a

: the act or action of cutting or tearing one's own flesh

… the self-laceration often results in sustained or permanent visible disfigurements to the body …

—Armando Favazza

b

: the act or action of rebuking or tormenting oneself

Here his self-laceration finds expression in a series of adjectives that come tumbling out …

—Harold Bloom

self-lacerating

ˌself-ˈla-sə-ˌrā-tiŋ 

adjective

a self-lacerating autobiography

his self-lacerating honesty

… as she launched an unexpected second career as an acerbic, self-lacerating chronicler of Hollywood excess …

—Matt Schudel

Examples of self-laceration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

George, on the other hand, was a delightful, thrilling roller-coaster ride of fun and games, self-laceration and self-loathing, but nevertheless with a happyish ending. —New York Times, 28 Sep. 2023

As with Nathan for You, Fielder mixes actual service, slightly mocking exposure and full-on self-laceration, though usually with some compassion for the human condition. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1684, in the meaning defined above