/ Dictionary / Index S self-defeating: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: self-de•feat•ing Pronunciation: (self'di-fē'ting, self"-), [key] — adj. serving to frustrate, thwart, etc., one's own intention or interests: His behavior was certainly self-defeating. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: self-defeating (Thesaurus) self-deception self-defense Related Content Daily Word Quiz: acerbity Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language