Meaning & Definition of word "Suicidal"

Suicidal

/ˌsuːɪˈsaɪdəl/

adjective:

  • 1. relating to or characterized by thoughts or actions of suicide; having the potential to lead to suicide.
    • Example: After weeks of feeling hopeless, she started to have suicidal thoughts.
  • 2. describing behavior that is likely to result in one’s own death or is extremely self-destructive.
    • Example: His reckless driving habits were becoming increasingly suicidal.
  • 3. indicating a severe mental health crisis where a person may contemplate ending their own life.
    • Example: The therapist recognized that his client was in a suicidal crisis and needed immediate help.

Etymology

Derived from 'suicide' + '-al', indicating a relation to the act of self-killing.

Common Phrases and Expressions

suicidal thoughts:

thoughts about self-harm or taking one's own life

suicidal ideation:

the process of thinking about suicide

suicidal tendencies:

patterns of behavior indicating a predisposition to suicide

Related Words

suicide:

the act of intentionally ending one's own life.

self-harm:

deliberately inflicting pain or injury on oneself.

depression:

a mood disorder characterized by persistently low mood and loss of interest.

Slang Meanings of suicidal

Meaning: to feel extremely low or hopeless

Example Sentence: I'm feeling really suicidal today, like nothing matters.

Meaning: to engage in reckless behavior without caring about consequences

Example Sentence: He drove like a maniac; it was totally suicidal.