Synonyms of altruism

altruism

noun

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

• generosity
• charity
• philanthropy
• kindness
• magnanimity
• nobility
• humanitarianism
• selflessness
• leniency
• empathy
• mercy
• forbearance
• clemency
• unselfishness
• sympathy
• mercifulness
• understanding
• pity
• compassion
• lenience
• benevolence
• lenity
• goodwill
• goodness
• quarter
• grace
• gentleness
• tenderness
• meekness
• civility
• softness
• kindliness
• devotion
• humaneness
• worship
• favor
• affection
• niceness
• love
• mildness
• commiseration
• care

Dissimilar Words

• selfishness
• greed
• ruthlessness
• revenge
• vengeance
• retaliation
• retribution
• cruelty
• violence
• virulence
• punishment
• vindictiveness
• sadism
• hatred
• brutality
• savagery
• reprisal
• venom
• discipline
• mercilessness
• uncharitableness
• barbarity
• spite
• viciousness
• pitilessness
• vitriol
• malice
• incivility
• requital
• truculence
• atrocity
• hate
• hard-heartedness
• jealousy
• hostility
• savageness
• wantonness
• antagonism
• malevolence
• meanness
• loathing
• abhorrence
• malignancy
• scolding
• animosity
• resentment
• spleen
• enmity
• maliciousness
• castigation
• antipathy
• abomination
• chastisement
• malignity
• detestation
• ill will
• bitterness
• bile
• nastiness
• grudge
• execration
• pique
• jaundice
• gall
• rancor
• spitefulness
• hardness
• roughness
• harshness
• coarseness
• cattiness
• invidiousness
• hatefulness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of altruism

Biblical scholar Bart Ehrman contends that our modern sense of altruism can be traced back to the radical shift in ethical thinking sparked by Jesus' teachings. — Big Think, 26 Mar. 2026

Trefethen led a similar portfolio at the philanthropic organization, Coefficient Giving, which is a major funder of the effective altruism community that has sometimes clashed with OpenAI’s vision for artificial intelligence. — Thalia Beaty, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026

Providing service to others seems like a good cure for what ails us today — a true lack of altruism and looking out for each other regardless of race, gender or religion, etc. — Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026

Advertisement The company has deep roots in effective altruism (EA), a social and philanthropic movement dedicated to using reason to do the most good, including by averting catastrophe. — Harry Booth, Time, 11 Mar. 2026

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