self-gratification

noun

self-grat·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌself-ˌgra-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

: the act of pleasing oneself or of satisfying one's desires

especially : the satisfying of one's own sexual urges

Examples of self-gratification in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Along with a lot of simple self-gratification, this panoramic vision contains a lot of condescension. — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 June 2026

The term virtue signaling refers to an annoying moral peacocking that has less to do with politics than with self-gratification. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2026

The gentle paradox here, one Wallace was intimately in touch with, is that reading fiction is a form of self-gratification, done alone, that allows a person to feel unalone. — Hermione Hoby, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026

As described in Margaret’s letter, these crises of confidence are part of any artist’s journey toward self-gratification. — Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 11 Jan. 2026

According to the warrant affidavit, the man then took his phone out of his pocket, pulled his pants down and began engaging in self-gratification. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2025

Sure, there’s one last bit of Taylor Sheridan self-gratification in the first ten minutes, as everyone gathers around and laughs heartily at one last wacky story from Travis. — Vulture Editors, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024

The acts in general thought about a little more than self-gratification and social media affirmation. — Spin Staff, Spin, 5 Sep. 2023

Indeed, liberal societies have often encouraged the aimless pursuit of material self-gratification. — Francis Fukuyama, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-gratification

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization