self-centeredness

noun

as in selfishness
excessive interest in oneself in her extreme self-centeredness she hadn't even noticed that her friend was depressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 self-centeredness There’s a fine line between self-care and self-centeredness. — Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 2 June 2026 This same self-centeredness compels his girlfriend (Olivia Thirlby) to move out of their modest apartment without warning. — Judy Berman, Time, 26 Jan. 2026 Where Grande really shines is in showing Glinda’s growing realization of this and whether to accept it, of how her self-centeredness has hurt other people — including her best friend, who is now running for her life. — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Nov. 2025 This is different from egoism and self-centeredness. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 Christ reveals that we can’t be held hostage by inharmony, self-centeredness, or bitterness, in ourselves or others. — Liz Butterfield Wallingford, Christian Science Monitor, 23 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-centeredness
  1. selfishness
  2. vanity
  3. ego
  4. narcissism
  5. egocentrism
  6. egocentricity
  7. egoism
Noun
  • Cook argues this creates an unintentional selfishness, in which your anxious thoughts distract you from noticing what’s actually going on with the people around you.
    — Hannah Harper, HEALTH, 14 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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
  • Unlike other music expert podcasts, this one is stripped of any mansplaining or ego — picture just a bunch of music lovers in a room, sitting by a fire and going deep on how young Bob Weir’s vocals sounded in 1970.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Under the black cape, trash can helmet and ample body armor straight out of a low-budget sci-fi film, Binface’s alter-ego is Jon Harvey, a middle-aged comedian who has spent much of the campaign trying to keep his cool during a sweltering summer.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of ego
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
  • Young children frequently blame themselves due to egocentrism, while the transition to two homes presents logistical and emotional challenges.
    — Patricia Fersch, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Such assumptions are based more on psychological phenomena like egocentrism.
    — Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of egocentrism
Noun
  • Luckily, the egocentricity of the business makes for very interesting pickings.
    — James Fallon, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of egocentricity
Noun
  • Kikuko sometimes mistook Shigejiro’s cheerfulness for egoism owing to the distortions produced by her illness.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • There was too much egoism politically for each country to be all together with a unique economy, language and president.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of egoism

Browse Nearby Words

self-centered
self-centeredness
self-collected
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-centeredness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-centeredness. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of rigmarole

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All