harikari

/hærəˈkɪri/

Definitions

1. noun

a form of ritual suicide in which the victim makes a precise cut in the abdomen with a sharp knife to disembowel themselves, historically practiced in Japan

“The tragic story of the samurai who chose harakiri to restore his honor.”

2. verb

to commit harakiri

“In times of war, many Japanese warriors would rather harakiri than surrender to their enemies.”

Synonyms

  • ritual suicide
  • seppuku

Antonyms

  • resistance
  • survival