as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
his overweening self-admiration blinded him to constructive criticism of any kind
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Recent Examples of self-admiration
Most of the film plays out in something close to real time, and the directors, loath to hurry scenes along, slow the action down with a technical virtuosity that sometimes tilts into self-admiration.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
At first, Oliver meekly and gratefully laps up, metaphorically, the warm milk of affection that the family bestows on him between their rounds of backbiting and oblivious self-admiration.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2023
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
At first, Oliver meekly and gratefully laps up, metaphorically, the warm milk of affection that the family bestows on him between their rounds of backbiting and oblivious self-admiration.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-admiration
Noun
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Vintage Mirrors Layered on Surfaces Instead of hanging every mirror, try leaning a smaller antique mirror on a console, vanity, or shelf behind other objects.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
20 June 2026
-
The bathroom had a roomy tub, large shower, double vanity and very good lighting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 June 2026
Noun
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For Fergie, joining the military didn’t just appeal to his ego and ambition.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
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In the finale, with Ben’s The Spider alter-ego on the verge of being exposed, Robbie steps in by donning the Spider suit on his behalf — allowing Morris, who grew up a massive Spider-Man fan, to fulfill a kind of childhood dream.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
Noun
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That's what Armen and Jaime Azizyan, the co-owners of the floral studio, Flybunker, take a lot of pride in being able to do.—
Max Darrow,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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Mobutu spoke of great achievements, the pride at being the first Black African team at a World Cup, even how good the Zaire yellow shirts (which Mobutu apparently had a hand in designing) looked against their skin.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Aerion Targaryen Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett), also known as Aerion Brightflame, is a volatile and cruel Targaryen prince infamous for his arrogance and violent behavior.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
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Why does confidence read as passion for a white athlete, but as arrogance for a Black one?—
Brielle Miller,
Baltimore Sun,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-admiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-admiration. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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