suicidal

suicidal — adjective

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

1.形容詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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]

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞

文法句型

be suicidal

suicidal + [noun: thoughts / feelings / ideation]

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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]

同義詞
  • deadly

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

  • lethal

    more clinical; describes actions or substances capable of causing death

反義詞
  • safe

    not involving serious risk of death

文法句型

suicidal + [noun: act / behaviour / gesture]

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞C1
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
反義詞
  • strategic

    well-planned and likely to bring long-term benefits

文法句型

financially / politically / economically suicidal

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

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.