self-sabotage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-HighFormal to Informal (common in psychology, self-help, business, and everyday contexts)
Quick answer
What does “self-sabotage” mean?
The act of intentionally or unconsciously undermining one's own goals, success, or well-being through one's own thoughts or actions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of intentionally or unconsciously undermining one's own goals, success, or well-being through one's own thoughts or actions.
A behavioral pattern where an individual creates obstacles, makes poor choices, or holds self-defeating beliefs that prevent them from achieving what they desire, often stemming from fear, low self-esteem, or a subconscious desire to maintain the status quo.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling remains hyphenated in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally psychological/pop-psychology in both. Slightly more clinical in formal UK contexts.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in US self-help/pop psychology media.
Grammar
How to Use “self-sabotage” in a Sentence
[Subject] engages in self-sabotage.[Subject]'s self-sabotage prevented [object].To stop/overcome/end self-sabotage.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-sabotage” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She realised she had been self-sabotaging her chances of promotion.
- Stop self-sabotaging and commit to the plan.
American English
- He self-sabotaged by showing up late to the interview.
- You need to identify how you self-sabotage in relationships.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used. Typically periphrastic, e.g., 'in a self-sabotaging way')
American English
- (Rarely used. Typically periphrastic, e.g., 'acted self-sabotagingly')
adjective
British English
- His self-sabotage tendencies were clear to everyone but him.
- They addressed their self-sabotage habits in therapy.
American English
- Her self-sabotage behavior was rooted in imposter syndrome.
- Breaking self-sabotage cycles requires awareness.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to behaviors that hinder career progression, like missing deadlines, conflict with superiors, or neglecting key networks.
Academic
Used in psychology and sociology to describe maladaptive coping mechanisms or internalized self-limitations.
Everyday
Commonly used to explain procrastination, staying in unhealthy relationships, or failing to follow through on plans.
Technical
In clinical psychology, may relate to specific disorders (e.g., borderline personality traits, avoidance behaviors).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-sabotage”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-sabotage”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-sabotage”
- Using it as a verb without 'engage in' (e.g., 'He self-sabotaged' is informal/rare). Spelling as one word ('selfsabotage'). Confusing with simple failure or external sabotage.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, often it's unconscious. People may not be aware they are undermining themselves, attributing failures to external factors.
Self-sabotage implies a pattern of behavior that consistently thwarts one's goals, often driven by underlying psychological factors, whereas a mistake is a one-off error.
Yes, the term is often extended metaphorically to describe collective behaviors (e.g., poor management decisions, dysfunctional culture) that harm the group's objectives.
No, it's a descriptive term for a behavior pattern, not a formal diagnosis itself. However, it is a common feature discussed in therapy for issues like anxiety, depression, and personality disorders.
The act of intentionally or unconsciously undermining one's own goals, success, or well-being through one's own thoughts or actions.
Self-sabotage is usually formal to informal (common in psychology, self-help, business, and everyday contexts) in register.
Self-sabotage: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself ˈsæb.ə.tɑːʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌself ˈsæb.ə.tɑːʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be one's own worst enemy.”
- “To shoot oneself in the foot.”
- “To snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SABOTEUR inside your SELF, secretly damaging your own plans.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SELF AS A BATTLEGROUND / THE SELF AS AN ENEMY / THE MIND AS A SABOTEUR
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario BEST exemplifies 'self-sabotage'?