self-destruct

verb

self-de·​struct ˌself-di-ˈstrəkt How to pronounce self-destruct (audio)
self-destructed; self-destructing; self-destructs

intransitive verb

: to destroy oneself or itself
self-destruct adjective

Examples of self-destruct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rocket self-destructed, marking the company's second failure in nine months, following an explosion during its first launch attempt. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024 That day, Lamond set his Telegram chat with Tarrio to self-destruct after 10 seconds; soon after, Tarrio told several contacts that the warrant for his arrest was signed. Ella Lee, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2024 Prosecutors say the men communicated more than 600 times across multiple platforms across their roughly yearlong source relationship — many of those conversations took place on the encrypted chat service Telegram, where some messages were set to self-destruct upon receipt. Ella Lee, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2024 According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, White House officials told nonprofit organizations on Nov. 22 that the United States would send three types of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, all of which contain self-destruct features. John Ismay, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for self-destruct 

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-destruct was in 1968

Dictionary Entries Near self-destruct

Cite this Entry

“Self-destruct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-destruct. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

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