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
President Trump’s diatribes and self-absorption are impediments to good governance, prompting critics to engage in a war of words and physical demonstrations.
—
William J. Boudreau, Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2026
Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas play sisters, raised in a sprawling yet cozy house that has been in the family for years; when their mother dies, they’re forced to reckon with the selfishness and self-absorption of their long estranged filmmaker father (Stellan Skarsgård).
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 3 Dec. 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
See All Example Sentences for self-absorption
William J. Boudreau, Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2026
Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas play sisters, raised in a sprawling yet cozy house that has been in the family for years; when their mother dies, they’re forced to reckon with the selfishness and self-absorption of their long estranged filmmaker father (Stellan Skarsgård).
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 3 Dec. 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
See All Example Sentences for self-absorption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-absorption
Noun
-
The adjectives used to describe vampire Lucy suggest monstrous selfishness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 May 2026
-
Our policies have been defined more by optimism and generosity than by selfishness and cynicism.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The dresser has a classic silhouette with minimalist details like tapered legs and oiled hardware, and the mirror doubles as a vanity.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
That lack of vanity becomes the greatest weapon of My Duchess.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Noun
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These experts suggested Trump showed signs of narcissism, sociopathic tendencies, and a fixation on the haunting legacy of his punishing father.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
20 May 2026
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Brand narcissism was always a signal that something was off.—
Rebecca Brooks,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
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The deepest reason for this near-universal futility is that most of us remain imprisoned by the delusions of the ego, suffering from alternating cravings and revulsions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
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This requires a different balancing of one's own ego, which in this context, is not self-confidence but the prioritizing of the collective outcome.—
Naira Velumyan,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-absorption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-absorption. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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