as in selfness
excessive interest in oneself
the only reason for constantly ignoring everyone else's problems is selfishness
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Recent Examples of selfishness
His selfishness affects not only himself but everyone around him, usually leaving a path of destruction in his wake.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Their affair sends the already-shaky state of affairs into a downward spiral, and Lidia blames both Boa’s leadership and Yovani’s selfishness for her mother’s demise.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025
Robin Hood replaces the character’s intrinsic altruism with a persistent adolescent selfishness.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas play sisters, raised in a sprawling yet cozy house that has been in the family for years; when their mother dies, they’re forced to reckon with the selfishness and self-absorption of their long estranged filmmaker father (Stellan Skarsgård).
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfishness
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Their affair sends the already-shaky state of affairs into a downward spiral, and Lidia blames both Boa’s leadership and Yovani’s selfishness for her mother’s demise.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025
Robin Hood replaces the character’s intrinsic altruism with a persistent adolescent selfishness.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas play sisters, raised in a sprawling yet cozy house that has been in the family for years; when their mother dies, they’re forced to reckon with the selfishness and self-absorption of their long estranged filmmaker father (Stellan Skarsgård).
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfishness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selfishness
Noun
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Posing on top of an antique vanity and inside a wooden cabinet, Bieber cycled through a parade of sheer lace, see-through mesh, and strappy designs in shades of red, black, pink, and cream.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
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Store liquids—such as lotion, makeup, perfumes, and skincare—on a tray to protect your vanity table or bathroom cabinet.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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McGuane also reminded me that Hemingway was, to put it politely, a complicated personality, a domineering figure prone to brawling, affairs, and cask-strength egoism.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
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This is different from egoism and self-centeredness.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Exceptional leadership doesn’t come from theatrics or titles, but from choosing presence over distraction, courage over comfort, and curiosity over ego.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Tariffs, conquests; all are subverted to this man’s ego.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Selfishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selfishness. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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