as in generosity
feelings and behavior that show a desire to help other people and a lack of selfishness
charitable acts motivated purely by altruism In one final act of altruism, she donated almost all of her money to the hospital.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of altruism
Others include cognitive empathy (accurately understanding a patient’s situation); communication skills (asking about patients’ lives and telling them our interpretations); and altruism (mobilizing these understandings for the patient’s benefit).
—
Rachel Pearson, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Forbes contributor Mark Travers writes that altruism in the workplace can go too far.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Almost all food recalls are made by the manufacturing company voluntarily, but not out of altruism.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
One XPrize Healthspan donor, Daniel Krizek, a biotech-fund manager who plans to invest a billion dollars in longevity, espouses the values of effective altruism.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for altruism
Rachel Pearson, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Forbes contributor Mark Travers writes that altruism in the workplace can go too far.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Almost all food recalls are made by the manufacturing company voluntarily, but not out of altruism.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
One XPrize Healthspan donor, Daniel Krizek, a biotech-fund manager who plans to invest a billion dollars in longevity, espouses the values of effective altruism.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for altruism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for altruism
Noun
-
The Brown family is among the wealthiest families in the country, and its generosity over generations has left an undeniable mark on Louisville.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Still, Kozlin says she was overwhelmed by Evelyn’s generosity.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
McQueen is getting in on the art deco centenary action, shooting its 2025 holiday campaign at Eltham Palace in southeast London, an architectural gem built in 1936 that now belongs to the charity English Heritage.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Its main benefit would be financial protection and the ability to pay for a large expense rather than be a charity care or bad debt patient.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Sara Shallenberger Brown was a trailblazer for the family in terms of philanthropy.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
-
In addition, John Arnold has a Forbes philanthropy score of 5 out of 5.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Altruism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altruism. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share