suicidal

suicidal — adjective

1. describing a person who has strong thoughts or feelings about ending their own l

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a person who has strong thoughts or feelings about ending their own life, often as a result of severe depression or emotional distress

Example

Folake's family doctor noticed she seemed depressed and asked if she had ever felt suicidal.

predicative: feel / be suicidal

The clinical psychologist referred two suicidal patients to the crisis intervention unit.

attributive: suicidal + [patient]

Common collocations
  • suicidal thoughts
  • suicidal feelings
  • suicidal ideation
  • suicidal tendencies
  • feel suicidal
Synonyms
  • self-destructive

    broader — covers both physical and emotional self-harm, not exclusively the impulse to die

  • despairing

    focuses on the emotional state of hopelessness rather than the specific impulse to end one's life

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be suicidal

suicidal + [noun: thoughts / feelings / ideation]

Usage Note

This sense is primarily used in medical, clinical, or counselling settings. It commonly appears in fixed phrases such as 'suicidal thoughts', 'suicidal feelings', and 'feeling suicidal'. Avoid using this sense lightly or in informal exaggeration.

Common Mistakes

I'm so stressed about my exams that I'm suicidal.
I'm so stressed about my exams that I feel overwhelmed.
Using 'suicidal' casually about everyday stress trivialises a serious mental health condition.

2. describing an action that is so extremely dangerous that the person doing it wil

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing an action that is so extremely dangerous that the person doing it will almost certainly die

Example

The paramedics knew that jumping from that bridge would be a suicidal act.

attributive: suicidal act

Ignacio survived a high-speed suicidal car chase but later received psychiatric treatment.

attributive: suicidal + [noun phrase]

Common collocations
  • suicidal act
  • suicidal behaviour
  • suicidal gesture
  • suicidal driving
Synonyms
  • deadly

    focuses on the fatal outcome rather than the person's intent

  • lethal

    more clinical; describes actions or substances capable of causing death

Antonyms
  • safe

    not involving serious risk of death

Grammar Patterns

suicidal + [noun: act / behaviour / gesture]

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 describes the danger level of a specific action, not the person's mental state. An action can be suicidal (life-threatening) even when performed by someone who does not actually want to die.

Common Mistakes

Walking alone at night in that area is suicidal.
Walking alone at night in that area is extremely dangerous.
Reserve 'suicidal' for actions that pose a near-certain risk of death, not general danger.

3. describing a choice or plan that will certainly harm the person who makes it, ca

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a choice or plan that will certainly harm the person who makes it, causing failure or serious loss in their career, finances, or social position

Example

Valentina knew that quitting her job without any savings would be financially suicidal.

adverb + suicidal: financially suicidal

The union rep warned members that walking out now would be a politically suicidal move.

adverb + suicidal + noun: politically suicidal move

Common collocations
  • politically suicidal
  • economically suicidal
  • financially suicidal
  • commercially suicidal
  • suicidal policy
  • suicidal strategy
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • strategic

    well-planned and likely to bring long-term benefits

Grammar Patterns

financially / politically / economically suicidal

suicidal + [noun: plan / policy / strategy / move]

Usage Note

Always figurative. Commonly paired with domain-marking adverbs such as 'politically', 'economically', 'financially', or 'commercially' to specify the area of self-damage. This sense has no connection to actual death or suicide.

Common Mistakes

Refusing the promotion was suicidal for his career.
Refusing the promotion was very damaging to his career.
Reserve 'suicidal' for extremely severe, near-certain negative outcomes, not moderate setbacks.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe states of severe emotional distress, but they differ in focus and severity. 'Suicidal' is the strongest and most specific — it explicitly involves thoughts or intentions of ending one's own life and is primarily used in clinical or counselling contexts. 'Self-destructive' is broader, covering any behaviour that harms oneself, from substance abuse to reckless relationships, without necessarily implying a wish to die. 'Despairing' describes a feeling of complete hopelessness that may or may not lead to suicidal thoughts, while 'despondent' is a milder, more temporary form of discouragement. For example, a patient might feel despondent after a job rejection but become truly suicidal only after sustained hopelessness. A chronically self-destructive person might repeatedly make harmful life choices without ever planning suicide.

suicidal ↗self-destructivedespairingdespondent

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • feeling suicidal
  • suicidal thoughts
  • suicidal behaviour

Etymology

LatinEnglish

'Suicidal' was formed in English in the early 19th century from the Latin roots 'sui' (of oneself) and 'caedere' (to kill), following the same pattern as 'homicide' and 'patricide'. It originally appeared as a medical and legal term describing the act of killing oneself. The figurative meaning (causing one's own failure) developed later, in the mid-19th century.