- the act or habit of behaving in a way that interferes directly with one’s own goals, well-being, relationships, etc., as by comfort eating, procrastination, or lashing out at others: If a line worker physically assaults a supervisor, that’s self-sabotage, as there’s every likelihood of dismissal followed by criminal prosecution.
- to behave, especially habitually or compulsively, in a way that interferes directly with one’s own goals, well-being, relationships, etc.: She’ll do OK for a while, and then all of a sudden she’ll self-sabotage by procrastinating and making excuses, and her dreams come to a screeching halt—again.Your husband is self-sabotaging the relationship with his gambling.
