ego·ist
ˈē-gə-wist 
-gō-ist
1
: a believer in egoism
2
: an egocentric or egotistic person
ego·is·tic
-gō¦is-,
-tēk
variants
or less commonly egoistical
-tə̇kəl
-tēk-
1
2
: of or relating to the ego or egoism
the interior egoistic relations of a single subject—
James Martineau
James Martineauan egoistic interpretation of social behavior, a denial of the existence of altruistic conduct—F. W. Znaniecki
F. W. ZnanieckiExamples of egoist in a Sentence
Noun
their boss is a demanding egoist who insists that everything be done her way
Recent Examples on the Web
Book Marks
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
His characters come off as feisty egoists who enjoy sparring and comparing the size of their ambitions.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 13 May 2025
The adage about egoists who want to be the bride at every wedding proved literally true.
—Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 9 May 2025
McCarthy’s difficulties highlighted the power of hard-right extremists and social-media egoists among the fragile Republican majority in the House.
—Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2023
In Season 1, Jamie was introduced as a loud-mouthed egoist with an affinity for flamboyant clothing, often acting as an antagonist for Brett Goldstein’s often angry, introverted Roy Kent.
—Sam Wright, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022
Burnham skewers himself as a virtue-signaling ally with a white-savior complex, a bully and an egoist who draws a Venn diagram and locates himself in the overlap between Weird Al and Malcolm X.
—New York Times, 1 June 2021
At times, egoists can approach absurdity and drag their countries into outright disaster.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2019
He has been described as an impulsive, narcissistic egoist who lives in the shadow of his father.
—James Muldoon, Time, 21 May 2018
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Noun
The former vice-president’s characterizations of peers such as Pete Buttigieg (talented but too gay for the America to accept as her running mate), and Josh Shapiro (an egoist) are not particularly juicy, but have already caused bad blood.
—Book Marks
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
His characters come off as feisty egoists who enjoy sparring and comparing the size of their ambitions.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 13 May 2025
The adage about egoists who want to be the bride at every wedding proved literally true.
—Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 9 May 2025
McCarthy’s difficulties highlighted the power of hard-right extremists and social-media egoists among the fragile Republican majority in the House.
—Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2023
In Season 1, Jamie was introduced as a loud-mouthed egoist with an affinity for flamboyant clothing, often acting as an antagonist for Brett Goldstein’s often angry, introverted Roy Kent.
—Sam Wright, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022
Burnham skewers himself as a virtue-signaling ally with a white-savior complex, a bully and an egoist who draws a Venn diagram and locates himself in the overlap between Weird Al and Malcolm X.
—New York Times, 1 June 2021
At times, egoists can approach absurdity and drag their countries into outright disaster.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2019
He has been described as an impulsive, narcissistic egoist who lives in the shadow of his father.
—James Muldoon, Time, 21 May 2018
Cite this Entry
“Egoist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/egoist. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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