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
Relevance
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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Born in Naples in 1943, the son of a seamstress and a railway employee who was also an accomplished and ambitious painter, Starnone began his working life as a schoolteacher.—
Tim Parks,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026 -
The grant also supported an ambitious effort to bring the wild descendants of McCloud salmon back to California from New Zealand.—
Rachel Becker,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Nevertheless, driving under the influence is a selfish and serious act.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
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Prioritizing your own physical and mental health isn’t selfish.—
Team Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And for aspiring scientists, book tickets for the talk with space scientist Sheila Kanani at the Spring Stage.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
7 Apr. 2026
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Stephanie Christian said the funding provided by the TREP program was appealing for an aspiring teacher who would enter a historically lower-paying career.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 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 10 Apr. 2026.
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