death wish

NOUN

desire to die

Synonyms

WEAK

black despondency death instinct gloom and doom pessimism self-destructive urge suicidal despair

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If Evy is virtually alone in a house where strange noises are occurring at all hours, what would possess her to put on noise-canceling headphones, other than a death wish?

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

The director has said that he interprets the death wish in the opera as part of the cycle of rebirth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

"You would have to have a death wish to go out now," one Iranian journalist reflected.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

In the Northwest, winter hiking can feel like an exercise in misery at best and a possible death wish at worst, but not in Arizona.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024

“First Dana Matherson, now Beatrice the Bear. You got a death wish, Tex?”

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen