superego

noun

Save Word

su·per·ego | \ ˌsü-pər-ˈē-(ˌ)gō

also -ˈe-(ˌ)gō

Definition of superego

: the one of the three divisions of the psyche in psychoanalytic theory that is only partly conscious, represents internalization of parental conscience and the rules of society, and functions to reward and punish through a system of moral attitudes, conscience, and a sense of guilt — compare ego, id

Examples of superego in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Instead, Deb now serves as the superego to Dexter's id. — Lynette Rice, EW.com, 9 Sep. 2021 The Twitter prompts are an outsourcing of the superego, the little warning voice in our heads externalized as a piece of code. — Laurence Scott, Wired, 14 July 2021 Car buyer superegos have welcomed these improvements and choose safer models, all other things being equal. — Dan Albert, Vox, 21 June 2019 But Freud assumed that healthy people operate under the restraint of the superego, which is shaped by social norms. — Paula Marantz Cohen, WSJ, 4 May 2018 Snooki is perpetually and jubilantly tipsy, Ronnie is sour and reserved, and Vinny is the guido superego. — Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2018 Not that Lara never functioned as Bobby’s superego, no. — refinery29.com, 26 Mar. 2018 The superego is the intellectualized philosophy of the movement — the thinkers. — Ben Shapiro, National Review, 11 Sep. 2017 Spider-Man was the perfect expression of that adolescent angst of id versus superego. — Kareem Abdul-jabbar, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 July 2017 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'superego.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.