death wish

noun

1. desire for one's own death or for the death of another.
2. Psychiatry. a suicidal desire, manifested by passivity, withdrawal, and absorption in nihilistic thoughts, that may eventually lead to suicidal behavior.

death wish

noun

1. (in Freudian psychology) the desire for self-annihilation See also Thanatos

Word History and Origins

Origin of death wish¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

There's racism, right-wing propaganda, a failing information environment, and perhaps an American death wish.

From Salon

An attack on him was a "death wish by the attacker" he said, and he thanked Congress for approving more money for the Secret Service.

From BBC

Reichert’s backers warn choosing Bird would amount to a political death wish in Washington, where the GOP hasn’t won a governor’s race since 1980 and is currently shut out of every statewide office.

From Seattle Times

In the Northwest, winter hiking can feel like an exercise in misery at best and a possible death wish at worst, but not in Arizona.

From Seattle Times

These aren’t the only cases in which Republican state administrations have visited what we might call the GOP death wish upon their residents.

From Los Angeles Times