SELF-DESTRUCT Definition & Meaning

self-destruct

[ self-di-struhkt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

to destroy itself or oneself:
The missile is built so that a malfunction will cause it to self-destruct.
to cause itself or oneself to reach a state of collapse, dysfunction, confusion, or the like:
The committee is so disorganized it will probably self-destruct before it can accomplish anything.

adjective

causing something to self-destruct:
a self-destruct mechanism.

self-destruct

verb

intr to explode or disintegrate automatically as a result of pre-programming
the missile self-destructed
to destroy oneself, one's reputation, etc, through one's habits or actions
I totally self-destructed with drugs

noun

( as modifier )
hit the self-destruct button

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of self-destruct¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The community group Crane Boulevard Safety Coalition had challenged the city’s use of disappearing messages, contending that it amounted to a secret, self-destructing communications channel for city business.

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Researchers say cancer cells need to run out of pyrimidine building blocks, including uridine nucleotides, before the cells will self-destruct.

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Exeter, who had taken an early lead through Manu Feyi-Waboso, had no answer to the home momentum as the match progressed, pressing the self-destruct button by giving up penalty after penalty.

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“I wrote it about a relationship I had with someone who was abusing substances. It was hard to kind of see somebody just self-destruct like that,” Shaboozey said.

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Straight-faced Democrats contend the self-destruct amendment —they don’t call it a poison pill — is necessary because of policy “conflicts” between the legislation and the initiative.

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