navel-gazing

noun

navel-gaz·​ing ˈnā-vəl-ˈgā-ziŋ 

: useless or excessive self-contemplation

Synonyms of navel-gazing

• selfness
• selfishness
• vanity
• narcissism
• ego
• self-absorption
• self-involvement

Examples of navel-gazing in a Sentence

a singer-songwriter whose compositions are too often exercises in self-important navel-gazing

Recent Examples on the Web

Just as the geeky navel-gazing threatens to become tedious, a joke or a wink keeps the audience laughing and focused on the fantastical story Schoenbrun actually wants to tell—which isn’t a genuine slasher at all. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

His insights into topics like substance abuse, persona, and family go beyond navel-gazing. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Is there anything weirder than this navel-gazing celebration of journalists? — Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026

Cook moved past the navel-gazing of perfectionist designers to get the product out the door, scaling with unprecedented success. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for navel-gazing

• overgrazing
• paraphrasing
• amazing
• appraising
• rephrasing
• blazing
• brazing
• crazing
• gazing
• glazing
• grazing
• hazing

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