as in generosity
feelings and behavior that show a desire to help other people and a lack of selfishness
charitable acts motivated purely by altruism In one final act of altruism, she donated almost all of her money to the hospital.
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Recent Examples of altruism
Trefethen led a similar portfolio at the philanthropic organization, Coefficient Giving, which is a major funder of the effective altruism community that has sometimes clashed with OpenAI’s vision for artificial intelligence.
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Thalia Beaty,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Providing service to others seems like a good cure for what ails us today — a true lack of altruism and looking out for each other regardless of race, gender or religion, etc.
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Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Advertisement The company has deep roots in effective altruism (EA), a social and philanthropic movement dedicated to using reason to do the most good, including by averting catastrophe.
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Harry Booth,
Time,
11 Mar. 2026
Whether the motivations are development, altruism, returns or security, there is a role and reward for putting energy and resources into this effort.
—
Ajaypal Banga,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for altruism
Thalia Beaty,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Providing service to others seems like a good cure for what ails us today — a true lack of altruism and looking out for each other regardless of race, gender or religion, etc.
—
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Advertisement The company has deep roots in effective altruism (EA), a social and philanthropic movement dedicated to using reason to do the most good, including by averting catastrophe.
—
Harry Booth,
Time,
11 Mar. 2026
Whether the motivations are development, altruism, returns or security, there is a role and reward for putting energy and resources into this effort.
—
Ajaypal Banga,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for altruism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for altruism
Noun
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When storage itself is put on display, of course, the museum is still speaking, declaring both the wealth of its holdings and its generosity in sharing them.
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Badly wounded in a battle of revenge, Robin Hood is brought to a priory and tended by Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer), whose generosity awakens his finer feelings and spurs him to virtuous, self-sacrificing action.
Noun
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Daisy Chain Fields features an all-women lineup and 100 percent of the net proceeds will go to charities dedicated to advancing and advocating for women and girls.
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The most recent instance was last weekend, when Pax and Shiloh were photographed playing pickleball with Angelina Jolie during a charity event, the Support+Feed Pickleball Invitational and Game Night, in Los Angeles.
Noun
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And the gap between what nonprofits are being asked to solve and what philanthropy is positioned to support is widening.
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If the bet pays off, America gets the growth, the jobs and the technology — and eventually the philanthropy.
Cite this Entry
“Altruism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altruism. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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