as in selfishness
excessive interest in oneself
her degree of self-interest is perhaps best reflected in her favorite topic of conversation—herself
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-interest
The other half involved a dilemma between self-interest and the interests of others, and had ambiguous outcomes, such as deciding whether to help a neighbor at the expense of personal work deadlines.
—
New Atlas, 20 Aug. 2025
How corporations, in self-interest and self-greed, are bending at the knee to please our rulers?
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
The incumbent president is unique for his sharp, loose tongue and shameless pursuit of his self-interest, yes.
—Isaac Schorr, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
At times, the longing can feel insatiable, and can force people to act in ways that are entirely against their own self-interest.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-interest
New Atlas, 20 Aug. 2025
How corporations, in self-interest and self-greed, are bending at the knee to please our rulers?
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
The incumbent president is unique for his sharp, loose tongue and shameless pursuit of his self-interest, yes.
—Isaac Schorr, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
At times, the longing can feel insatiable, and can force people to act in ways that are entirely against their own self-interest.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-interest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-interest
Noun
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Approach LinkedIn DMs with service instead of selfishness, so sales become a natural byproduct of connection.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Batemen gets a few moving monologues, but Vince’s heavier dose of morbid witticisms aren’t enough to overcome his pervasive selfishness and abominable behavior (nor is a late-arriving revelation about his past).—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There was no vanity in her, which is what Fran McDormand had.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
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The homeowner’s suite, comprising a large bedroom, a sitting/dressing room, lots of closet space, and a bathroom with marble vanities, spills onto a deck overlooking the yard.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Thanks to his clever punchlines that carry zero sting, the biggest names in TV can leave the ceremony with unbruised egos.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego, an individual’s ambition.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is different from egoism and self-centeredness.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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In advance of the ceremony, the finalists were asked an essential question: Orwell claimed that prose writers have four ‘great motivations’ (putting aside the need to earn a living): sheer egoism; aesthetic enthusiasm; historical impulse; and political purpose.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-interest. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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