What Is Another Way to Say “Self-Destructive”?

Looking for synonyms for self-destructive? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say self-destructive.

  • Self-sabotaging
  • Self-defeating
  • Self-damaging
  • Self-harming
  • Self-injurious
  • Self-impairing
  • Self-deprecating
  • Self-destructing
  • Masochistic
  • Self-undermining
  • Self-ruining
  • Auto-destructive
  • Self-devastating
  • Self-annihilating
  • Suicidal

Want to learn how to say self-destructive professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Self-sabotaging

Appropriate Use: Often used in a psychological context to describe behavior that undermines one’s own goals.
Example: His tendency to procrastinate on important projects is a self-sabotaging habit.

2. Self-defeating

Appropriate Use: Used to describe actions or attitudes that counteract one’s own interests or purposes.
Example: Engaging in constant office gossip is a self-defeating behavior that harms professional reputation.

3. Self-damaging

Appropriate Use: Refers to behaviors or actions that cause harm to oneself, especially in a physical or emotional sense.
Example: The executive’s refusal to delegate led to self-damaging levels of stress.

4. Self-harming

Appropriate Use: Specifically refers to actions that cause direct physical harm to oneself.
Example: The company’s policy of mandatory overtime can lead to self-harming levels of burnout among employees.

5. Self-injurious

Appropriate Use: Similar to self-harming, but can include indirect forms of harm.
Example: Not taking allotted vacation time is a self-injurious practice that affects mental health.

6. Self-impairing

Appropriate Use: Used to describe actions that detrimentally affect one’s abilities or functions.
Example: His constant skepticism towards new ideas is a self-impairing attitude in innovative fields.

7. Self-deprecating

Appropriate Use: Often used in the context of communication, referring to belittling oneself.
Example: While some self-deprecating humor can be relatable, overuse can undermine a leader’s authority.

8. Self-destructing

Appropriate Use: Describes a broader range of destructive behaviors, not limited to physical harm.
Example: The manager’s habit of micromanaging is self-destructing to team morale.

9. Masochistic

Appropriate Use: Often used in psychological contexts, referring to finding pleasure in one’s own pain or humiliation.
Example: Persisting in a masochistic work environment can lead to long-term psychological issues.

10. Self-undermining

Appropriate Use: Similar to self-defeating, it refers to actions that erode one’s own position or status.
Example: Not acknowledging one’s achievements in meetings can be a self-undermining behavior.

11. Self-ruining

Appropriate Use: Used to describe actions leading to one’s own downfall or failure.
Example: The director’s unwillingness to adapt to market changes was a self-ruining strategy.

12. Auto-destructive

Appropriate Use: A formal term similar to self-destructive, often used in academic or clinical settings.
Example: The CEO’s auto-destructive decision-making jeopardized the company’s future.

13. Self-devastating

Appropriate Use: Used for actions or behaviors that have severe negative consequences.
Example: Neglecting personal health for work is a self-devastating choice in the long term.

14. Self-annihilating

Appropriate Use: Refers to extreme forms of self-destructive behavior, often with irreversible consequences.
Example: Engaging in unethical practices to achieve short-term gains is a self-annihilating approach.

15. Suicidal

Appropriate Use: Used in the gravest sense, referring to actions that could lead to one’s own death.
Example: The company’s decision to ignore safety protocols in production was nearly suicidal.

Linda Brown