as in selfness
excessive interest in oneself
the novel's major characters all suffer from self-absorption, and they are every bit as insufferable as such people are in real life
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Recent Examples of self-absorption
That blindness, that self-absorption, has become your legacy.
—
Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Maybe the symptoms of his cognitive decline are inextricable from what seemed to you to be his general self-absorption and thoughtlessness.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
Frost’s well is a modern version of Narcissus’ pool, and his poem is a meditation on self-absorption and its limits.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The romantic storyline represents uncharted territory for a character known more for self-absorption than self-reflection.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-absorption
Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Maybe the symptoms of his cognitive decline are inextricable from what seemed to you to be his general self-absorption and thoughtlessness.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
Frost’s well is a modern version of Narcissus’ pool, and his poem is a meditation on self-absorption and its limits.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
The romantic storyline represents uncharted territory for a character known more for self-absorption than self-reflection.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-absorption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-absorption
Noun
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The selfish tyrant attaches himself only to those others who share his selfishness, who are eager to wear the mask of perpetual lying.—
David Brooks,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
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If not for Camilla, who’d gone out of her way to take Regina in, even letting her share the bedroom with her and Lalla, the others wouldn’t have welcomed her—not out of spite, no, because none of them were spiteful after all, but out of indifference, selfishness, plain and simple.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The rooms Even the standard guest rooms have a good amount of space (starting at 600 square), and the style feels contemporary and understated with rooms done in tan desert hues with natural stone glass showers, double sink vanities, and oval tubs, plus large balconies or patios.—
Lizbeth Scordo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
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Melania has been described as having an audience of one, but that intended viewer’s taste runs more toward Ratner’s earlier work, and Rush Hour 4 is going to be a lot harder to manifest than this vanity project.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Age and bitterness appear to have compounded the narcissism and egomania to produce derangement.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
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Fassaert recalls how audience members told him about the way the film broaches his grandmother’s narcissism, a notion perpetuated for many years in his family.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That set the stage for an epic clash of strategic visions and executive egos that culminated in the Disney board ousting Chapek in November 2022 and Iger reclaiming the CEO role.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
3 Feb. 2026
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The good news for voters otherwise predisposed to Abughazaleh is that there’s a youthful progressive candidate in the race with similar views but who comes with a record of service and without the ego.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-absorption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-absorption. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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