self-defeating
adjective /ˌself dɪˈfiːtɪŋ/
/ˌself dɪˈfiːtɪŋ/
- causing more problems and difficulties instead of solving them; not achieving what you wanted to achieve but having an opposite effect
- Paying children too much attention when they misbehave can be self-defeating.
- It becomes self-defeating to go on wrangling about tactics.