self-destruct
verb, noun
Forms self-destructs self-destructing self-destructed
- verb (usually figuratively) To destroy oneself or itself. “The submarine was primed to self-destruct.”
- verb 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. “If you attack with an energy level of only 30 you are going to self-destruct.”
- noun (chiefly science fiction) A feature of a system whereby it destroys itself. “They won't take any prisoners! Activate the self-destruct!”
Synonyms
Etymology
From self- + destruct.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “self-destruct”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details