navel-gazing

noun

ˈnā-vəl-ˈgā-ziŋ How to pronounce navel-gazing (audio)
Definition of navel-gazingnext
as in selfness
excessive interest in oneself a singer-songwriter whose compositions are too often exercises in self-important navel-gazing

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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 navel-gazing Now The human consciousness question is not just philosophical navel-gazing. — Barry Libert, Forbes.com, 17 Mar. 2026 Equal to Tesfaye’s navel-gazing, Shults uses every trick in the music-video playbook to conjure a vivid, ultra-saturated but not quite realistic universe where the Weeknd is a brightly burning sun everyone revolves around. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 15 May 2025 Van Nistelrooy’s first three games brought a defeat, a victory and a draw; his fourth, on December 14, was a visit to Newcastle, who were navel-gazing after a damaging 4-2 defeat at Brentford. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 That deserves far more digital ink to be spilled than the usual navel-gazing about how iPhones are boring. — Steven Aquino, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for navel-gazing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for navel-gazing
  1. selfishness
  2. vanity
  3. narcissism
  4. ego
  5. self-absorption
  6. self-involvement
Noun
  • Sieler’s selfishness, in this sense his ability to get sacks himself, might be best for the team.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Defeating the dragon and reclaiming the treasure represents the restoration of order and the triumph of generosity over selfishness.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
Definition of selfishness
Noun
  • The bedroom is paired with a Blue Crystallo quartzite bathroom, where the vanity matches the walk-in shower and a gold soaking tub sits next to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2026
  • For a Minimal Footprint Specs AccordionItemContainerButton When every inch counts, designers often start by lifting the vanity off the floor.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of vanity
Noun
  • In Salzburg, sharing becomes essence, not the kind of narcissism that appears to be adopted by our upcoming LA28 cultural Olympiad, in which Angelenos are invited to submit entrees that show off our goods rather than a cultural exchange.
    — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
  • But there is certainly consistencies with the narcissism and being driven by power and control.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of narcissism
Noun
  • But what really interested us with this movie was trying to understand the humanity and searching for and exploring the love and the loyalty to characters to have a dialogue with an audience and not do it for the sake of ego or shock.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026
  • In a day when outsized egos rule the sports landscape, Harvey is humble, upbeat and engaging.
    — Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of ego
Noun
  • Simon is often his own worst enemy, letting his self-absorption and professional hang-ups derail him.
    — Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Over the past half century, the city’s culture has descended into one of entitlement, complacency and self-absorption.
    — Michael Bernick, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of self-absorption
Noun
  • Natalie’s anxieties about her sexuality and frustration with her parents’ self-involvement.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 5 June 2026
  • By widening the lens, Clark is able to redirect the book’s gaze from the mother toward a quizzical, sometimes critical, but not unaffectionate portrait of two generations of political activism, with the attendant self-involvement and domestic negligence.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Definition of self-involvement

Browse Nearby Words

navel
navel-gazing
navels
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Cite this Entry

“Navel-gazing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/navel-gazing. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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