suicide
the intentional taking of one's own life.
destruction of one's own interests or prospects: Buying that house was financial suicide.
a person who intentionally takes their own life.
to intentionally end one’s own life; to die by suicide.
to kill (oneself).
Origin of suicide
1usage note For suicide
However, the phrase commit suicide is discouraged by major editorial style guides, mental health professionals, and specialists in suicide prevention. The verb commit is associated with crime (in the justice system) and sin (in religion). Using such moralistic language deepens the emotional pain surrounding a suicide.
The verb phrases to die by suicide and to end one’s life are now preferred over the common expression commit suicide . The adjectives successful , unsuccessful , and failed are words that should be avoided when describing a suicide or suicide attempt, as is language that either romanticizes or stigmatizes the act.
Suicide is undeniably a hard subject to broach. It is okay to talk about suicide; studies show that discussing suicide with someone will not make that person suicidal or increase the likelihood of acting on suicidal ideation. But using language that criminalizes the act is insensitive to those whose lives have been touched by suicide.
Other words from suicide
- an·ti·su·i·cide, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for suicide
/ (ˈsuːɪˌsaɪd, ˈsjuː-) /
the act or an instance of killing oneself intentionally
the self-inflicted ruin of one's own prospects or interests: a merger would be financial suicide
a person who kills himself intentionally
(modifier) reckless; extremely dangerous: a suicide mission
(modifier) (of an action) undertaken or (of a person) undertaking an action in the knowledge that it will result in the death of the person performing it in order that maximum damage may be inflicted on an enemy: a suicide attack; suicide bomber
Origin of suicide
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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