superego

noun su·per·ego \ ˌsü-pər-ˈē-(ˌ)gō also -ˈe-(ˌ)gō \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

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

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Recent Examples of superego from the Web

Snooki is perpetually and jubilantly tipsy, Ronnie is sour and reserved, and Vinny is the guido superego.

— jon caramanica, New York Times, "On ‘Jersey Shore Family Vacation’ and ‘Trading Spaces,’ Reality TV Eats Itself," 4 Apr. 2018
Not that Lara never functioned as Bobby’s superego, no.

— refinery29.com, "What This 3-Second Interaction Says About The Future Of Bobby Axelrod On Billions," 26 Mar. 2018
The superego is the intellectualized philosophy of the movement — the thinkers.

— ben shapiro, National Review, "Steve Bannon Is Not Trump or Trumpism," 11 Sep. 2017
Spider-Man was the perfect expression of that adolescent angst of id versus superego.

— kareem abdul-jabbar, The Hollywood Reporter, "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 3 Ways to Build a Better Black Superhero," 21 July 2017
But there is a classic Freudian map to this anecdote: Cursing is the anarchic and uncivilized id, while the superego (associated with the father) is represented by the cops, and the ideal of an earlier, more orderly New York.

— philip kennicott, The Denver Post, "Why does the Trump “resistance” use such crude and profane language?," 24 May 2017
The curator was like the superego, burying ninety-nine per cent of thoughts in the dark.

— elif batuman, The New Yorker, "Constructed Worlds," 23 Jan. 2017
Mr. Clooney’s character, Lee Gates, is the kind of charming, egotistic broadcast peacock who requires a tough, honest, outwardly-cynical-but-secretly-idealistic, behind-the-scenes superego.

— a. o. scott, New York Times, "Movie Review: ‘Money Monster’," 12 May 2016

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.