self-destruct
Trigger own destruction
Self-destruct means to destroy itself, typically by an automatic or deliberate mechanism.
Missiles and spacecraft may self-destruct if they veer off course.
The term extends to people or organizations that undermine themselves through their own actions: His campaign began to self-destruct after the scandal.
A self-destruct button or sequence triggers intentional destruction.
Automatic harm prevention mechanism
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- triggerWhat initiates action
- overloadBurden beyond capacity
- shutdownCessation of operations
scuttle · arming · activation · explosive · malfunction · disarm
Decisive dangerous moment
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- breachBreaking of agreement
- maydayRadio emergency signal
lockdown · evacuation · critical · abort · failsafe · override · protocol · contingency
Chronic occupational depletion
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- unravelingProcess of coming undone
- implosionViolent collapse inward
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
Total destruction or erasure
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
- demolitionDeliberate structural destruction
- implosionViolent collapse inward
- explosionViolent burst of energy
vaporization · eradication · annihilation · collapse · wipeout · incineration · detonation
Sink intentionally; hurried shuffle
- undermineWeaken by stealth
- subversionUndermining established authority
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
betrayal · compromise · destabilize · infiltrate · treason · subterfuge · saboteur · covert
fail-safe
Automatic harm prevention mechanism
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- triggerWhat initiates action
- overloadBurden beyond capacity
shutdown · scuttle · arming · activation · explosive · malfunction · disarm
crisis
Decisive dangerous moment
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- breachBreaking of agreement
mayday · lockdown · evacuation · critical · abort · failsafe · override · protocol · contingency
burnout
Chronic occupational depletion
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- unravelingProcess of coming undone
- implosionViolent collapse inward
meltdown · spiral · collapse · dysfunction
obliteration
Total destruction or erasure
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
- demolitionDeliberate structural destruction
- implosionViolent collapse inward
explosion · vaporization · eradication · annihilation · collapse · wipeout · incineration · detonation
scuttle
Sink intentionally; hurried shuffle
- undermineWeaken by stealth
- subversionUndermining established authority
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
treachery · betrayal · compromise · destabilize · infiltrate · treason · subterfuge · saboteur · covert · classified
timer
Duration-tracking mechanism
sequence · deadline · delay · scheduled · preprogrammed · interval · clock · hourglass · arming · time-bomb
- Mission: ImpossibleEthan Hunt, Tom Cruise, IMF, latex masks, Fallout
- secure messagingSignal, WhatsApp, Telegram, encryption, end-to-end encryption
- Superweaponsnuclear bomb, atomic bomb, hydrogen bomb, neutron bomb, thermonuclear bomb
- selfpersonal identity, psyche, ego, introspection, character
- Alien Franchisexenomorph, Ellen Ripley, Ripley, Newt, Hicks
- encryptionencryption, encryption key, cryptography, end-to-end encryption, cipher
self-destructsurvive
Continue to exist
self-care · self-defense · self-repair · self-heal · endure
self, construct, instruct, destruction, destructive, destruct, self-destruction, self-destructive