suicidal ideation
noun
: the act of thinking about or a state of preoccupation with ending one's own life : the act of considering or planning suicide
He had been hospitalized several times for depression and suicidal ideation: the previous summer he had checked himself into a hospital in Laramie.—
Melanie Thernstrom
Melanie ThernstromAlleviating gender dysphoria and aligning gender expression with identity through these treatments can lower stress, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and significantly lessen suicidal ideation.—Orion Rummler
Orion RummlerExamples of suicidal ideation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Authorities in Washington were alerted by police in Carlisle, Massachusetts, on Monday that a man with a gun who had expressed suicidal ideations on social media was headed to Washington.
—Pierre Thomas, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2025
Other positive health effects included lower risks of suicidal ideation, self-harm, bulimia and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2025
And contrary to some fears that GLP-1 medications might increase the risk of depression and suicidality, as other weight loss drugs have in the past, this study found that these newer medications were linked to a lower risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and the intention to self-harm.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025
This includes someone with suicidal ideations, psychiatric emergencies, emotional or psychological distress and substance abuse concerns.
—Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suicidal ideation 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Pierre Thomas, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2025
Other positive health effects included lower risks of suicidal ideation, self-harm, bulimia and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2025
And contrary to some fears that GLP-1 medications might increase the risk of depression and suicidality, as other weight loss drugs have in the past, this study found that these newer medications were linked to a lower risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and the intention to self-harm.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025
This includes someone with suicidal ideations, psychiatric emergencies, emotional or psychological distress and substance abuse concerns.
—Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suicidal ideation
Dictionary Entries Near suicidal ideation
Cite this Entry
“Suicidal ideation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suicidal%20ideation. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
suicidal ideation
noun
: the act of thinking about or a state of preoccupation with ending one's own life : the act of considering or planning suicide
Depression appears to be one of the strongest predictors of suicidal ideation but does not appear to distinguish those who have attempted suicide from those who have experienced suicidal ideation without attempts.—E. David Klonsky et al., Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
E. David Klonsky et al., Annual Review of Clinical PsychologyBurnout among medical students seems to be an important predictor of subsequent suicidal ideation even without symptoms of depression.—Liselotte N. Dyrbye et al., Annals of Internal Medicine
Liselotte N. Dyrbye et al., Annals of Internal MedicineLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share