self-destruct

verb
UK: /ˌself.dɪˈstrʌkt/
US: /ˌself.dɪˈstrʌkt/

  1. To destroy itself.

    1. The bomb will self-destruct soon.
    2. If the company fails to adapt, it will self-destruct in the market.

  2. To behave in a way that is certain to ruin your life or career.

    1. He tends to self-destruct when things go well.
    2. She seemed determined to self-destruct her chances of promotion with constant lateness.

Synonyms

implode
self-destruct adjective

  1. Made to destroy itself after a set time or when a set condition has been met.

    1. The message had a self-destruct timer.
    2. The device has a self-destruct mechanism to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.

  2. Relating to behavior that is certain to ruin your life or career.

    1. His self-destruct behavior ruined everything.
    2. She recognized her self-destruct tendencies and sought help.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "self-destruct" in English means: To destroy itself., To behave in a way that is certain to ruin your life or career..

The phonetic transcription of "self-destruct" is /ˌself.dɪˈstrʌkt/ in British English and /ˌself.dɪˈstrʌkt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "self-destruct": implode.

Example usage of "self-destruct": "The bomb will self-destruct soon.". More examples on the page.