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
But self-awareness doesn’t obviate self-absorption.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 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
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 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
-
And there is a selfishness in understanding that in your craft and your industry, this is a pinnacle.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
-
There are no casinos, no lotteries and no racetracks that allow bets, a prohibition rooted in the conservative ideals of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which views gambling as a vice that leads to selfishness and addiction.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Making the vanity the centerpiece of the bathroom can transform the space entires, often with just a simple can of paint.—
Lauren Jones,
The Spruce,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Included in this suite is a spa-like primary bath with a soaking tub, stand-up shower, and two vanities.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Even worse, if that’s possible, is that his psychopathic narcissism adds a selfish mean streak to his adolescent behavior.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Her great, big burlesque performance is a striptease that, layer by layer, reveals her narcissism, her naïveté and her broken heart.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
So if our leader can check his ego, clearly the rest of us could check our ego.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Like their ego is being quieted .—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-absorption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-absorption. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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