as in egotistical
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests
a selfish desire to succeed at the expense of others
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 selfish
To them, Belly’s brotherly ménage à trois and altar-dumping story is interesting, sure, but no more selfish and reckless than Celine, for instance, who sleeps with married men as a hobby.
—
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Roup wants moms to be a little more selfish.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 25 Aug. 2025
In a world where financial independence is more within reach than ever before, protecting that independence is not selfish.
—Libby Leffler, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
The referee agreed with Warner’s claimed mitigation factors of remorse, an absence of dishonest or selfish motive, cooperating with the proceedings and dealing with personal or emotional problems.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfish
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Roup wants moms to be a little more selfish.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 25 Aug. 2025
In a world where financial independence is more within reach than ever before, protecting that independence is not selfish.
—Libby Leffler, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
The referee agreed with Warner’s claimed mitigation factors of remorse, an absence of dishonest or selfish motive, cooperating with the proceedings and dealing with personal or emotional problems.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selfish
Adjective
-
The community organizer turned president turned socialite has never been great at hiding his egocentric ways.—
Grace Curley,
Boston Herald,
21 July 2025
-
Bang is perfect for this kind of role, playing an imposing figure who can be both aloof and egocentric, and whose grand stature diminishes as the film progresses.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sian Clifford gives a larger-than-life performance as a narcissistic aristocrat who hires a struggling filmmaker to record her every move, in Samuel Abraham’s eccentric mockumentary.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
-
As the show’s narcissistic heel, Impacciatore’s performance reminds me of Janelle James’ saccharine-cutting turn in Abbott.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Client Video Testimonials Testimonials are a powerful way to promote yourself without seeming self-centered.—
William Arruda,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Investing time and effort into connecting with your inner sea might seem self-centered.—
Jessica DuLong,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Brilliant and brave, the poet and soldier was also entirely self-absorbed, turning the Adriatic city into his own personal manuscript.—
Ed Simon
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
-
Is Huda self-absorbed, overdramatic, extremely volatile, overly obsessed with traditional gender roles, and impossible to please?—
Shannon Keating,
Vulture,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Their challenge on Frankenstein was bringing to the big screen the horror-meister’s vision of egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein and his monster as part of a diabolical experiment.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Esmeralda is incompetent, egotistic, and, thanks to Impacciatore’s ace comedic timing, totally fabulous.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The American academy has been far more used to a confessionalistic, even solipsistic style in its lyric poetry.—
Elaine L. Wang
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But he’s been shaken out of his solipsistic reverie.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The men at the film’s center — Paul and Carey — are hysterical and self-involved.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Not that Samantha wasn’t self-involved.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet Aster casts their motives as unprincipled and self-serving.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The potential for self-serving bias and belief bias are evident.—
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky,
Forbes,
27 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Selfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selfish. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share