self-serving

adjective

self-serv·​ing ˌself-ˈsər-viŋ How to pronounce self-serving (audio)
Synonyms of self-servingnext
: serving one's own interests often in disregard of the truth or the interests of others
self-servingly adverb

Synonyms of self-serving

Examples of self-serving in a Sentence

she's just another self-serving politician who puts her own ambitions above the public good
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To reject any anomaly, anything mysterious or unusual, Kawamura suggests, is to succumb to a soul-crushing, self-serving conformity—and to withhold possibilities of decency, discovery, and love that make any game worth playing, life very much included. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026 In the original fairytale, the stepmother is portrayed as cold, self-serving and wicked, but Hochhauser recognized and uplifted a different version of the character. Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026 Yet, some are sticking with this self-serving loser. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026 The vigilantes who hanged her were self-serving cattlemen. Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026 But the truth is that none of Monica’s parodic elements would matter that much if the music felt like a genuine experiment rather than a self-serving, big-budget attempt to deepen his image. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 Mar. 2026 Anybody so certain of anything — except maybe that the markets will be open for trading tomorrow — is acting out of their own self-serving interests to drive fear and gain more attention. Todd Gordon, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026 But this remains a polling no-brainer for lawmakers, who are tired of being seen as self-serving greed monsters. Philip Elliott, Time, 9 Mar. 2026 Go hard at the self-serving Secret Society of the AG, Senate president and House speaker blocking the will of the people. Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-serving was in 1615

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-serving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-serving. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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