self-serving
adjective
self-serv·ing
ˌself-ˈsər-viŋ 
: serving one's own interests often in disregard of the truth or the interests of others
self-servingly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of self-serving in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The potential for self-serving bias and belief bias are evident.
—
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
For officials in China and Russia, de facto adversaries of the United States, the Iraq War is an easy precedent to put forward to shoot down Washington’s talking points, no matter how self-serving and cynical that may be.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2023
These gentlemen are all capable storytellers, albeit invariably self-serving ones.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2023
Whereas money is a self-serving resource, time is an interpersonally connecting and more personally meaningful resource.
—Francesca Gino, Scientific American, 30 Dec. 2014
However, the kind of misinformed chaos where the responsible industry is given almost carte blanche to hide information and undertake a self-serving response is not the norm across industries.
—Maya Van Rossum, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2023
Although one’s heart naturally goes out to anyone in need, Miss Manners finds her sympathy limited because of your friend’s self-serving misuse of both English and etiquette.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that confirms one’s existing beliefs and attitudes, while self-serving bias is the tendency to view one’s own actions and decisions in a more favorable light.
—Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023
Although one’s heart naturally goes out to anyone in need, Miss Manners finds her sympathy limited due to your friend’s self-serving misuse of both English and etiquette.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 23 Feb. 2023
See More
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
For officials in China and Russia, de facto adversaries of the United States, the Iraq War is an easy precedent to put forward to shoot down Washington’s talking points, no matter how self-serving and cynical that may be.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2023
These gentlemen are all capable storytellers, albeit invariably self-serving ones.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2023
Whereas money is a self-serving resource, time is an interpersonally connecting and more personally meaningful resource.
—Francesca Gino, Scientific American, 30 Dec. 2014
However, the kind of misinformed chaos where the responsible industry is given almost carte blanche to hide information and undertake a self-serving response is not the norm across industries.
—Maya Van Rossum, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2023
Although one’s heart naturally goes out to anyone in need, Miss Manners finds her sympathy limited because of your friend’s self-serving misuse of both English and etiquette.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2023
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that confirms one’s existing beliefs and attitudes, while self-serving bias is the tendency to view one’s own actions and decisions in a more favorable light.
—Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023
Although one’s heart naturally goes out to anyone in need, Miss Manners finds her sympathy limited due to your friend’s self-serving misuse of both English and etiquette.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 23 Feb. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-serving.' 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
1615, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near self-serving
Cite this Entry
“Self-serving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-serving. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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