selfless

adjective

Definition of selflessnext
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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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 selfless Since his Vuelta win, Kuss has mostly reverted to selfless domestique duties, helping Vingegaard to win the 2025 Vuelta and 2026 Giro. — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Is there a more potent aphrodisiac than a man’s selfless admiration of a woman’s talents? — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026 Madeline Delp plays fellow leader Kitty Cone, whose selfless compassion challenges Heumann’s radical approach to the movement. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026 Her life offers a powerful blueprint for selfless advocacy, demonstrating how to use one's position to uplift others and challenge injustice. — Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for selfless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selfless
  1. generous
  2. philanthropic
  3. compassionate
  4. charitable
  5. thoughtful
  6. humane
  7. humanitarian
  8. unselfish
Adjective
  • The rooms Rooms are clean and bright, content to sit back, relax, and let the killer oceanfront views do much of the work where possible; first order of business are massive windows and glass doors leading out onto generous balconies.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Before going to bed, Joy leaves out a generous spread of midnight snacks packed full of chicken for the guests, who stay up late.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of generous
Adjective
  • Some billionaires have also pledged philanthropic contributions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • That would have been even a few more million bucks on top of what already looks more like a philanthropic civic act more than a savvy investment on Tullman’s impassioned part, but an enthusiastic punter can dream.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Definition of philanthropic
Adjective
  • Perinatal palliative care is an important and compassionate option.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Rodriguez described her daughter as kind, compassionate and full of life.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of compassionate
Adjective
  • Among Parton’s charitable efforts aimed at education was her Imagination Library, which has distributed more than 300 million books to children worldwide over the past 30 years.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Trump’s legislation also added a charitable deduction for filers who don’t itemize tax breaks, worth up to $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for married couples.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of charitable
Adjective
  • Combined with plush cushioning, these thoughtful details make Bombas socks stand out from the average pair.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Weiss, now 69, is widely viewed as a smart and thoughtful straight shooter, skilled at solving organizational problems.
    — Hilarie M. Sheets, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of thoughtful
Adjective
  • The United States has previously faced accusations of violating international laws on torture and humane treatment.
    — Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Sally Hayden’s reportage is always deeply humane, rigorous and challenging, and this new book promises to be an education.
    — Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of humane
Adjective
  • Joe sought a presidential pardon in June 2025, and Gia said in August 2026 that the family had filed a humanitarian packet as part of its efforts to bring him home.
    — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The result was a humanitarian crisis that at the time was considered the world’s worst, with some 377,000 people killed, according to the Yemen Data Project, which tracks casualties from Yemen’s various conflicts.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of humanitarian
Adjective
  • Lewandowski's unselfish pass to a wide-open Haile-Selassie at the back post capped the scoring in the 88th minute.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Apart from the group’s buy-in to doing the little things, its commitment to unselfish football keeps one of the most dynamic running games in the country from fracturing.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of unselfish

Browse Nearby Words

self-knowledges
selfless
selflessly
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Cite this Entry

“Selfless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selfless. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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