self-sabotage

USAGE SUMMARY

"self-sabotage" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing behaviors or actions that undermine one's own success or well-being. Example: "Her tendency to procrastinate was a clear case of self-sabotage." Alternative expressions include "self-defeating behavior" and "self-destructive actions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is self-sabotage.

The New Yorker

Did Garfield deliberately self-sabotage?

The Guardian - Film

It feels like self-sabotage.

The Guardian - Sport

It is, he said, "spectacular self-sabotage".

Independent

Does that count as self-sabotage?

The New York Times

Self-Sabotage in Black America.

The New York Times - Books

This is extreme self-sabotage.

The Guardian - Opinion

And so the self-sabotage begins.

The Guardian - Books

"They are quite liable to self-sabotage.

The Guardian

There were other instances of seeming self-sabotage.

The New York Times

Be aware of further self-sabotage, Ms. Goodwin said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use it to describe both conscious and subconscious behaviors that interfere with goal achievement

Common error

Writers frequently omit the hyphen, writing it as 'self sabotage'. While the meaning remains clear, the hyphenated form is the accepted standard for compound words beginning with 'self' in professional and academic publishing.

Linguistic Context

In modern English, "self-sabotage" functions primarily as a compound noun or an intransitive verb. According to Ludwig AI, it is frequently employed to categorize a wide range of counterproductive behaviors, from procrastination to missed deadlines.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "self-sabotage" is a highly versatile and widely recognized expression in contemporary English. Analysis of the data provided by Ludwig AI indicates that it is most frequently used to describe psychological patterns where an individual's actions conflict with their stated goals. It is consistently hyphenated in professional journalism and academic discourse. Whether used as a noun to identify a behavior or as a verb to describe an action, it remains a critical term for discussing personal development, productivity, and mental health. While informal idioms like "shooting yourself in the foot" are common in speech, "self-sabotage" is the preferred choice for business and analytical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

self-defeating behavior

Focuses more on the behavioral patterns rather than the specific act of sabotage

shooting yourself in the foot

An idiomatic and informal way to describe hurting one's own cause

undermining oneself

A more literal description of weakening one's own position

standing in one's own way

Metaphorical phrasing suggesting internal obstacles

self-handicapping

A specific psychological term describing the creation of obstacles to avoid responsibility for failure

auto-sabotage

A less common, Latin-prefixed variant of the same concept

thwarting one's own efforts

Uses a more formal verb to describe the prevention of success

internal resistance

Focuses on the psychological struggle that leads to sabotaging actions

self-destructive actions

Implies a broader range of harm beyond just missing goals

counterproductive habits

Broadly describes patterns that work against one's objectives

FAQs

How do I use "self-sabotage" in a sentence?

You can use it as a noun, such as "Procrastination is a common form of "self-sabotage"", or as a verb: "He tended to "self-sabotage" whenever he neared success".

What is another word for "self-sabotage"?

Depending on the context, you could use "self-defeating", "undermining", or the idiom "shooting yourself in the foot".

Is it "self-sabotage" or "self sabotage"?

The correct form is "self-sabotage" with a hyphen. Almost all high-authority sources in Ludwig, such as The New York Times and The Guardian, use the hyphenated version.

What is the difference between "self-sabotage" and "self-destruction"?

"self-sabotage" typically refers to undermining specific goals or tasks, whereas "self-destruction" often implies more severe, life-altering, or physical harm.