Self-mutilation

/sˈɛlfmjˌuːtɪlˈeɪʃən/

/sˈɛlfmjˌuːɾɪlˈeɪʃən/

[noun]

Self-mutilation

[NOUN]

the act of harming oneself by making wounds as a sign of mental illness

Examples

1. This act of self-mutilation as well as the god’s death and resurrection represented renewal, during the seasonal change from winter to spring.

2. Her self-mutilation also caused her cauliflower ears, a condition that typically plagues professional boxers and rugby players.

3. Having overt dissociative identity disorder can potentially endanger the person, especially if one identity engages in self-mutilation or risky behavior.

4. I think it's worth thinking about, at least for a moment, of the oddity of this terrible act of self-mutilation.