Search Dictionary
Definition of deathwish

deathwish

/ˈdɛθˌwɪʃ/
death · wish
Plural:deathwishes
JUMP TO:

deathwish Lexical Profile

deathwish Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A conscious or unconscious desire for the end of one's own life or the life of another, often manifested through reckless, self-destructive behavior.

Example

"Cycling through heavy city traffic at night without lights or a helmet seems like a total deathwish."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for deathwish
Antonyms
View all antonyms for deathwish

Word Nuance & Usage

More commonly written as the open compound "death wish" in standard edited prose.

• Nearby Words

deathly
deathmatch
deathtrap
deathwish
deb
debacle
debar

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century as a loan translation of German Todeswunsch, a term introduced by Sigmund Freud and his followers in psychoanalysis.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Deathwish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/deathwish
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.