self-defeating

English

Etymology

From self- +‎ defeating (present participle of defeat)

Adjective

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

1. 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