SELFISHNESS Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

selfishness

noun

ˈsel-fish-nəs

Definition of selfishness

as in selfness

excessive interest in oneself the only reason for constantly ignoring everyone else's problems is selfishness

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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.

Recent Examples of selfishness After Portugal’s 1-1 tie against DR Congo, Henry explained the selfishness of Cristiano Ronaldo’s movement, not opening space for a teammate. — Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 18 June 2026 Claire’s elective death therefore remains a problematic choice for some viewers, an act of vainglorious selfishness from a woman who was never terribly nice to begin with. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2026 The adjectives used to describe vampire Lucy suggest monstrous selfishness. — Literary Hub, 5 May 2026 Shooting the final sequence from Cassie’s point of view was a last-minute adjustment, which Levinson made the day of filming to emphasize Cassie’s narcissism and selfishness. — Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for selfishness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for selfishness

Noun

Prioritize Lasting Placements Over Speed In staffing, speed is a vanity metric.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Most Popular In Oona’s bathroom the tiles are from Country Floors, the vintage mirror is from Venice, Italy, and the vanity is an antique chest that was converted to a vanity with fittings by Waterworks.

— Sara Ruffin Costello, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of vanity

Noun

Kikuko sometimes mistook Shigejiro’s cheerfulness for egoism owing to the distortions produced by her illness.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
There was too much egoism politically for each country to be all together with a unique economy, language and president.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2026

Definition of egoism

Noun

Unlike other music expert podcasts, this one is stripped of any mansplaining or ego — picture just a bunch of music lovers in a room, sitting by a fire and going deep on how young Bob Weir’s vocals sounded in 1970.

— Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2026
Under the black cape, trash can helmet and ample body armor straight out of a low-budget sci-fi film, Binface’s alter-ego is Jon Harvey, a middle-aged comedian who has spent much of the campaign trying to keep his cool during a sweltering summer.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of ego

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selfish

selfishness

self-knowledge

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“Selfishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selfishness. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of selfishness

noun

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