self-defeating

English

Etymology

From self- +‎ defeating (“present participle of defeat”)

Adjective

self-defeating (comparative more self-defeating, superlative most self-defeating)

Of a plan or action: containing elements that will cause it to fail; destined not to succeed by its very nature.
Cutting off your nose to spite your face is self-defeating.

Derived terms

self-defeating prophecy

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