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
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
Through their foundation, the Kims look to support high school students with the same passion for altruism as their son.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 22 July 2025
Trump has thus ended—or at least paused—the U.S. policy of strategic altruism.
—Milan Vaishnav, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2025
Effective altruism, which developed from ideas put forth by the philosopher Peter Singer in the early 1970s, argues that well-off people and societies are morally obligated to combat poverty, even far from home.
—Matthew Purdy, New York Times, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for altruism
Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Through their foundation, the Kims look to support high school students with the same passion for altruism as their son.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 22 July 2025
Trump has thus ended—or at least paused—the U.S. policy of strategic altruism.
—Milan Vaishnav, Foreign Affairs, 16 July 2025
Effective altruism, which developed from ideas put forth by the philosopher Peter Singer in the early 1970s, argues that well-off people and societies are morally obligated to combat poverty, even far from home.
—Matthew Purdy, New York Times, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for altruism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for altruism
Noun
-
Through these tactics, Iftiu is trying to pay forward the generosity he's received within the system.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Alongside framing a poetics of wonder and wander, the writings across this trinity of works give us glimpses into how the world taught Oliver to love, a generosity revealed in what has sometimes been seen as lack.—
Natalie Diaz
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
According to the wildlife charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, orcas, Australian humpback dolphins and sperm whales have all been observed carrying dead calves.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Most of their public appearances are based in their joint charity efforts in advocating for the arts and the environment.—
Alexis Jones,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Chiu’s philanthropy is getting new artists into the Crocker and helping the museum continue to diversify its ranks – efforts that predate Floyd’s death, according to Scott Shields, the Ted and Melza Barr Chief Curator and Associate Director for the Crocker.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Guidance on philanthropy or running a family foundation may also be important to you.—
Andy Busser,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Altruism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/altruism. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share