self-stimulatory

adjective

self-stim·​u·​la·​to·​ry ˌself-ˈstim-yə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

: of, relating to, or involving the stimulation of oneself

Self-stimulatory behavior, often initiated to alleviate extreme anxiety, may serve as a coping mechanism to counteract an overwhelming sensory environment. This may be observed as various repetitive actions (stimming) and may include hand-flapping, rocking, body spinning, obsessive handling of an object, and echolalia …

—Jacqueline C. Dailey

This boy engaged in a high rate of self-stimulatory activity, and on occasion would scream loudly when a peer interrupted his repetitive behavior.

—Nancy Stephens and Elaina Sauber

Many get satisfaction from self-stimulatory, masturbatory techniques rather than via one's partner.

—Kersi Chavda

Examples of self-stimulatory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So when Shyne began stimming, a term used to describe the repetitive self-stimulatory behaviors some people with autism engage in to help regulate emotions and manage sensory input, Randall got her phone out and began to record. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-stimulatory

• adjudicatory
• anticipatory
• articulatory
• classificatory
• conciliatory
• congratulatory
• discriminatory
• ejaculatory
• emancipatory
• hallucinatory
• interlaboratory
• interrogatory