self-seeking

adjective

Definition of self-seekingnext
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
  1. ambitious
  2. selfish
  3. aspiring
Adjective
  • Up to half of the more than 200,000 mountain glaciers — vast, slow moving rivers of ice that creep across the world’s peaks — are expected to disappear by the end of this century, even if ambitious climate goals are met.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Some argue that cultural norms of male leadership and even outright discrimination keep women from top roles, while others argue that women are less ambitious than men.
    — Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambitious
Adjective
  • Both make token contributions to efforts to support Ukraine, often for selfish reasons.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Not because this generation is somehow softer or more selfish.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of selfish
Adjective
  • Ghosh is one of the faculty members with an AI version that is part of an online startup bootcamp, where aspiring founders can rehearse investor pitches, sales calls, and board meetings.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Green and Perry starred alongside one another on the hit Fox series, in which Green portrayed the aspiring musician David Silver while Perry starred as the rebellious Dylan McKay, for 10 years from 1990 to 2000.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of aspiring
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.

Browse Nearby Words

self-seekers
self-seeking
self-serving
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-seeking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-seeking. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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