self-preserving

adjective

self-pre·​serv·​ing ˌself-pri-ˈzər-viŋ How to pronounce self-preserving (audio)
: acting or tending to preserve oneself or itself
self-preserving instincts/behavior
It's a novel about whether, amid the absurd twists and cruelties of life, you end up being a self-preserving observer of the fray, a committed fighter against overwhelming odds, or something uncomfortably in between.Kenneth Kid

Examples of self-preserving in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Doubling down on fruitpologies strikes me as self-preserving more than anything. Sanibel Chai, ELLE, 25 May 2023 Lush reports that around 90% of its core range in 2022 was self-preserving, and 86.9% of global Lush product sales between 2021 and 2022 were from customers purchasing self-preserving products. Liz Leavitt, refinery29.com, 1 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-preserving.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-preserving was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near self-preserving

Cite this Entry

“Self-preserving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-preserving. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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