egotistical

adjective

ego·​tis·​ti·​cal ˌē-gə-ˈti-sti-kəl 

also ˌe-

variants or less commonly egotistic

ˌē-gə-ˈti-stik 

also ˌe-

: characterized by egotism : having, showing, or arising from an exaggerated sense of self-importance

an egotistical person/attitude/manner

… a man so egotistical … that he likened himself to Shakespeare, Milton and Byron …

—David Shaw

His celebrity and wealth have allowed him to indulge his whims to such an extent that the most egotistical Roman emperors, by comparison, seem models of psychological stability.

—Theodore Dalrymple

… each individual depends upon their friends to validate their own egotistical world view.

—Randall Collins

Hobson's book is a small but rare thing: a memoir that is not egotistical.

—Liesl Schillinger

… a difficult personality prompts analysts to describe him as having a prickly mosaic of characteristics: dominant, strong-willed, powerful, egotistic, … most of all arrogant.

—Stephen S. Hall

egotistically

ˌē-gə-ˈti-sti-k(ə-)lē 

also

ˌe- 

adverb

behaving arrogantly and egotistically

He had no objection to honey, he said …, but he protested against the overweening assumptions of bees. … If every confectioner went buzzing about the world banging against everything that came in his way and egotistically calling upon everybody to take notice that he was going to his work and must not be interrupted, the world would be quite an unsupportable place.

—Charles Dickens

Synonyms of egotistical

• smug
• arrogant
• proud
• selfish
• vain
• egoistic
• conceited
• self-important
• vainglorious

Examples of egotistical in a Sentence

the egotistic pro quarterback was always too busy to sign autographs, forgetting that the fans had paid good money to see him play

the true spirit of the Christmas season is the resolve to be less egotistic and more altruistic

Recent Examples on the Web

Starring Oscar Isaac as a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a monstrous creature (played by Jacob Elordi) to life despite all odds and with dire consequences. —Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026

In Lively’s version of events, Baldoni was an egotistical, posturing actor, who tried to present himself as an enlightened male feminist. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026

Universal Friend was independent, resolute, and brave—qualities that we Americans often claim as uniquely ours—but also stubborn and egotistical. —Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026

Sentimental Value stars Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as sisters trying to reconnect with their estranged father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgärd), an egotistical director who is trying to revive his once-stellar career. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

egotistical from egotist + -ical; egotistic from egotist + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for egotistical

• atheistical
• logistical
• sophistical
• statistical
• mystical