According to some authoritative dictionaries, like Oxford and Cambridge, the word "suicide" can ONLY be used as a noun. With that said, you can't say "A wants to suicide", but need to use the verb phrase "commit suicide" like "A wants to commit suicide" instead; however, I did see some people treat it as a verb, like a sentence "A wants to suicide."
Which one is right? "suicide" or "commit suicide"? Or do they all right, except for the difference between informal and formal usages?
Best Answer
This is the process of using nouns as verbs that has been increasing lately. Some call it denominalization, others verbing.
This process particularly permeates all registers of language, and while using it unawares at times, it is often considered controversial and meets with opposition. Thought.co explains:
Theoretically, you can transform any noun in a verb.
Now, the boundaries you set to converting nouns into verbs is still subjective, and can vary according to culture, region, work environment. This site advises:
Some believe that in certain cases, using nouns as verbs is simply due to laziness when the speaker can't be bothered with grammar or vocabulary and chooses the easier way out, the way foreigners do when their poor knowledge of a language forces them to over-simplify their sentences.
It is true that people are using he wants to suicide nowadays, and I personally do find it unfortunate, as it looks casual, as James pointed out. I wonder if people do it influenced by other languages where the verb has always existed (se suicider -French, αυτοκτονώ - Greek, etc.)
I would recommend to use the correct expression.
or, in fewer words,