# suicidal

/ˌsuəˈsaɪdəɫ/ (US) · /sˌuːɪsˈaɪdəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/suicidal
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. wanting to end one's life

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling so unhappy or hopeless that you want to kill yourself.

For teachers: relating to or likely to commit suicide; describing a person experiencing a mental health crisis involving self-harm ideation.

- The doctor was very concerned because the patient felt suicidal after losing his job.
- Medical professionals are trained to identify suicidal ideation in patients who may not explicitly state their intention to harm themselves.

Usage: Often used with the verb 'feel' or 'be'.

### 2. extremely dangerous or reckless

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

describing an action that is so risky it will probably lead to death or a complete disaster.

For teachers: describing a course of action that is likely to result in the death of the participants or the total destruction of an enterprise.

- Driving that fast on these icy roads is absolutely suicidal.
- The general argued that a frontal assault on such a heavily fortified position would be suicidal for the infantry.

Teaching tip: In informal contexts, this is used as a strong hyperbole for any very risky decision, not just physical danger.

### 3. a person at risk

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a person who is likely to try to kill themselves.

For teachers: an individual who is likely to commit or attempt to commit suicide.

- The clinic provides a safe space and 24-hour care for potential suicidals.
- The study followed a group of known suicidals to determine which intervention methods were most effective at preventing self-harm.

Usage: This noun use is less common than the adjective and can sound clinical or dated.

## Examples

- He felt suicidal after losing his job and his home.
- The soldier's decision to charge the enemy lines alone was described as a suicidal mission by his commanders.
- The protagonist's suicidal ideation is treated with great sensitivity throughout the novel, reflecting the author's commitment to exploring mental health with nuance and empathy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.