Standard Lemma guide

self-destruct

noun · verb · 4 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: S EH1 L F D IH0 S T R AH1 K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A feature of a system whereby it destroys itself.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: literature, media, publishing, science-fiction

Examples

  • They won't take any prisoners! Activate the self-destruct!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: autodestruct, autodestruction

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To destroy oneself or itself.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, usually

Examples

  • The submarine was primed to self-destruct.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: autodestruct

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To destroy or greatly damage one's position in a game, in one's work or career, in one's financial or social position, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • If you attack with an energy level of only 30 you are going to self-destruct.
  • Dating the boss is a bad move: if it goes badly, you could self-destruct.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

do away with oneself or itself

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The machine will self-destruct if you tamper with it

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: self-destroy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: destroy, destruct

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *swé? Proto-Indo-European *selbh-der. Proto-Germanic *selbaz Old English self Old English self- Middle English self- English self- English destruct English self-destruct From self- + destruct.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: autodestruir-se — to destroy oneself
  • Finnish: tuhota itsensä — to destroy oneself
  • French: auto-détruire — to destroy oneself
  • Greek: αυτοκαταστρέφομαι (aftokatastréfomai) — to destroy oneself
  • Russian: самоликвиди́роваться (samolikvidírovatʹsja) — to destroy oneself
  • Russian: саморазруша́ться (samorazrušátʹsja) — to destroy oneself
  • Russian: саморазру́шиться (samorazrúšitʹsja) — to destroy oneself
  • Spanish: autodestruirse — to destroy oneself
Real reading context

self-destruct in complete knowledge articles

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