suicidal

[ soo-uh-sahyd-l ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, involving, or suggesting suicide.
2. tending or leading to suicide.
3. foolishly or rashly dangerous:

   He drives at a suicidal speed.

suicidal

/ ˌsjuː-; ˌsuːɪˈsaɪdəl /

adjective

1. involving, indicating, or tending towards suicide
2. liable to result in suicide

   a suicidal attempt

3. liable to destroy one's own interests or prospects; dangerously rash

Derived Forms

• ˌsuiˈcidally, adverb

Other Words From

• sui·cidal·ly adverb
• pseudo·sui·cidal adjective
• unsu·i·cidal adjective
• unsu·i·cidal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of suicidal¹

First recorded in 1770–80; suicide + -al ¹

Example Sentences

County sheriff’s deputy will avoid jail time in the 2021 shooting death of a suicidal man under the terms of a plea deal reached with prosecutors Tuesday morning.

From Los Angeles Times

Wragg had struggled with his mental health in the past and had already stopped taking his antidepressants, which he considers a factor in the suicidal thoughts which led him to be admitted to hospital.

From BBC

The court heard she also had suicidal thoughts and had been taken to accident and emergency on many occasions, with the family scared she would take her own life.

From BBC

His loneliness “nearly killed him,” he said, acknowledging that he came close to acting on his suicidal ideation: “It was very touch and go at times.”

From Los Angeles Times

The department has often isolated detainees with severe mental illness, which can exacerbate suicidal intentions.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dangerous
• deadly
• depressed
• destructive
• fatal
• lethal