Synonyms of unselfish

unselfish 1 of 2

adjective

ˌən-ˈsel-fish 

as in generous

giving or sharing in abundance and without hesitation

an unselfish man who spends much of his time helping his community

Synonyms & Similar Words

• generous
• charitable
• benevolent
• liberal
• munificent
• handsome
• unstinting
• bountiful
• unsparing
• compassionate
• bounteous
• open
• bighearted
• openhanded
• fulsome
• altruistic
• kind
• hospitable
• philanthropic
• free
• humanitarian
• freehanded
• extravagant
• freehearted
• lavish
• magnanimous
• sympathetic
• beneficent
• kindly
• profuse
• overgenerous
• big
• openhearted
• good-hearted
• largehearted
• greathearted
• samaritan

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• selfish
• ungenerous
• stingy
• small
• parsimonious
• uncharitable
• miserly
• cheap
• penurious
• petty
• close
• tight
• tightfisted
• illiberal
• thrifty
• costive
• mean
• frugal
• spare
• sparing
• mingy
• chary
• avaricious
• stinting
• desirous
• closefisted
• acquisitive
• covetous
• mercenary
• avid
• rapacious
• envious
• grudging
• itchy
• resentful
• grasping
• begrudging
• hoggish
• stinting
• coveting

unselfishness

2 of 2

noun

as in generosity

the quality or state of being generous

her natural unselfishness sometimes attracts those who would take advantage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• generosity
• philanthropy
• kindness
• liberality
• munificence
• selflessness
• generousness
• bountifulness
• largesse
• bounty
• gift
• openheartedness
• openhandedness
• beneficence
• kindliness
• bigheartedness
• tribute
• charity
• wastefulness
• extravagance
• lavishness
• prodigality
• gratuity
• improvidence
• spendthrift
• squandering
• dissipating
• lagniappe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• selfishness
• meanness
• cheapness
• economy
• closeness
• tightness
• thrift
• parsimony
• stinginess
• miserliness
• frugality
• pinching
• providence
• conservation
• saving
• husbandry
• economizing
• conserving
• penuriousness
• ungenerosity
• managing
• skimping
• scrimping
• husbanding
• scraping
• cutting back

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unselfish

Adjective

Lynch has been unselfish in terms of shining the spotlight on others, and WWE’s best bet is to do that again with a rising talent post-WrestleMania. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2026

Fresh off a debut season that proved a star isn’t required to reach the playoffs, Golden State enters the WNBA draft searching for players who can seamlessly plug into a system built on depth, discipline and unselfish play. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026

Noun

In a small act of unselfishness, Celebrini then passed the puck to Collin Graf, only to have the Sharks winger send it right back to the still-teenaged wunderkind, who quickly fired the puck into the open net with a defender bearing down on him for his second goal of the game. — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026

But what gets me most excited is the loving family experiences, the relationships with neighbors and friends, the pride in community accomplishments, the lives touched by unselfishness. — Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026