1
as in ambitious
having a strong desire for personal advancement
a self-seeking schemer who claimed others' ideas and achievements as his own
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in selfish
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests
a self-seeking woman who could be counted on to sidetrack all conversation into a discussion of her problems
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-seeking
Adjective
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This sort of attention to dessert is otherwise increasingly rare; too many ambitious kitchens pour all their resources into their savory menus and then punt on the sweet courses, serving a scoop of gelato in a fancy coupe, or a slice of cake assembled off-site.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026 -
To this day, Galaxy and its sequel are the series’ most conceptually ambitious entries.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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My young and selfish self was not happy.—
Esther Ndumi Ngumbi,
NPR,
10 May 2026
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To do otherwise is neglectful and selfish.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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SeriesFest and Shondaland also partnered on the seventh cycle of the Women Directing Mentorship, a competition designed to discover aspiring female directors with a unique voice and provide a launchpad for their careers.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
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Noelle Lewis is living a few lives as an aspiring librarian by day and professional bridesmaid-for-hire by necessity.—
Erin La Rosa,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Self-seeking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-seeking. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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