self-flagellation

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The act of punishing oneself by whipping or beating: This refers specifically to the practice of inflicting physical punishment on one's own body, often with a whip or similar instrument.
    • Severe criticism of or harsh treatment towards oneself: In a figurative sense, it describes the act of mentally berating or being excessively critical of oneself.
Usage Examples

  • Noun (Literal): Some religious ascetics practiced self-flagellation as a form of penance.The historical records describe rituals involving self-flagellation.

  • Noun (Figurative): His constant self-flagellation over the mistake was preventing him from moving forward.Engaging in such intense self-flagellation is not a healthy way to cope with failure.

Advanced Usage

  • "a cycle of self-flagellation": A repeated pattern of harsh self-criticism. After every project, she fell into a cycle of self-flagellation, focusing only on what went wrong.

  • "ritual self-flagellation": Often used to describe the literal act when it is part of a formal religious or cultural ceremony. The pilgrimage involved ritual self-flagellation.

Variants and Related Words
  • Flagellate (verb): To whip or scourge.
  • Flagellant (noun): A person who subjects themselves to whipping, especially for religious discipline.
Synonyms
  • Self-punishment: Punishment inflicted on oneself.
  • Self-castigation: Severe criticism of oneself.
  • Self-reproach: The act of blaming or criticizing oneself.
Related Phrases
  • "to engage in self-flagellation": To participate in the act, either literal or figurative.
Related Idioms
  • "Beating oneself up": A common idiom similar to the figurative meaning of self-flagellation.
Noun
  1. self-punishment inflicted by whipping