as in generous
having or showing great concern for other people and little or no concern for yourself
a selfless act selfless dedication to helping the most in need
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Recent Examples of selfless
French butter pears had been the favorite of Maureen’s mother, who had loved Maureen and her two brothers and had dedicated a long, selfless motherhood to them.
—
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
Cultural messaging conditions women to play small We’re encouraged to be grateful, careful, and selfless; not bold, strategic, or profit driven.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Ellie is rash and impulsive; Dina is lovestruck; Jesse is loyal and selfless.
—ArsTechnica, 27 May 2025
For perhaps not so selfless reasons of his own, her rival, Peter Murdoch, is also making the descent.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfless
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
Cultural messaging conditions women to play small We’re encouraged to be grateful, careful, and selfless; not bold, strategic, or profit driven.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Ellie is rash and impulsive; Dina is lovestruck; Jesse is loyal and selfless.
—ArsTechnica, 27 May 2025
For perhaps not so selfless reasons of his own, her rival, Peter Murdoch, is also making the descent.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selfless
Adjective
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Others like Bill Gates, Laurene Powell Jobs, and Guy Fieri aren’t being so generous with their offspring.—
Ani Freedman,
Fortune,
20 June 2025
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Cho, as the perceptive and generous Jin, distracted from his own family troubles by the sudden flashes of Casey’s bright light, is wise and rejuvenated; disinterested admiration makes this man, who looks to be in his forties, nearly a teen-ager again.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Art Environments The Kohler Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Kohler Co., a global manufacturing giant headquartered in Kohler, WI.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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For estate planners, CPAs, and financial advisors, the key takeaway is that tax tools should serve philanthropic intent, not drive it.—
Matthew F. Erskine,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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This, for me, is a viable and compassionate way of supporting your people — those, like Griselda best said, who are the ones consuming your music and buying your concert ticket.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
20 June 2025
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Through his characters, Fellowes communicates his approval for a more compassionate and inclusive upper crust.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
20 June 2025
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For those grappling with tax implications—a common challenge for sudden wealth recipients—the firm collaborates with tax professionals to optimize strategies such as charitable donations and estate planning.—
Georgette Virgo,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Beneath the surface of its superlatives lies depth — thoughtful nods to heritage, reinterpretations of tradition and layers of cultural meaning embedded in contemporary forms.—
Natasha Amar,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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It's been quite a year so this was really such a thoughtful gesture and seriously made my month.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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In Pip Adam’s extraordinary, humane book Audition, the stars are both a dystopian place and a site of uncharted possibility.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
21 June 2025
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After relying on his instincts, Cloudy was among the cats captured and brought to the shelter for care, the humane society wrote in a Facebook post.—
Simone Jasper,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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There would be an unselfish nature, consisting of reluctant superstars and lifelong learners.—
Chantel Jennings,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
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As a basketball player, Earvin was much more unselfish.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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And the noble cause that unites us requires no less.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 June 2025
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The instinct behind this trend—to broaden one’s circle of concern—was noble.—
David Litt,
Time,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Selfless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selfless. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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