Phrase guide

death drive

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The drive toward death and self-destruction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, medicine, psychoanalysis, psychology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: death instinct, Thanatos

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Calque of German Todestrieb.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kuolemanvietti — drive toward death and self-destruction
  • French: pulsion de mort — drive toward death and self-destruction
  • German: Todestrieb — drive toward death and self-destruction
  • Polish: popęd śmierci — drive toward death and self-destruction
  • Turkish: ölüm dürtüsü — drive toward death and self-destruction