egoism

noun

ego·ism ˈē-gə-ˌwi-zəm

-gō-ˌi-,

also ˈe-

Synonyms of egoism next

: a doctrine that individual self-interest is the actual motive of all conscious action

: a doctrine that individual self-interest is the valid end of all actions

: excessive concern for oneself with or without exaggerated feelings of self-importance compare egotism sense 2

Example Sentences

because of her egoism, she never gave a thought to asking how the others felt

Recent Examples on the Web Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum, better known as Ayn Rand, left the USSR in 1926 and spent most of her days perfecting her egoism in the United States. —

Gary Shteyngart, The New York Review of Books, 19 Jan. 2023 Altruism, not egoism, is the driving force behind Rogers' desire to become enhanced. —

Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 23 July 2011 But these stem from posturing and egoism, not from principles—as proved by Cohen’s elevation of himself into such a passive, blameless creature. —

Laura Kipnis, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2022 The Academy’s apology is merely self-satisfying political egoism. —

Armond White, National Review, 19 Aug. 2022 Remaining king of the mountain is a daily battle with self-satisfaction, egoism and complacency. —

Brian H. Robb, Forbes, 15 June 2022 Some of this incoherence points to the plight of female ambition, its endless negotiations between egoism and self-effacement, toughness and delicacy. —

Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022 Pauli conveys the brilliant inventor’s egoism and emotional stuntedness, qualities that at one point provoke a climactic showdown with Ada. —

Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022 The novel was written during the heyday of rational egoism, when certain utopian thinkers believed that human behavior could be reduced to a series of logical rules so as to maximize well-being and create the ideal society. —

Meghan O'gieblyn, Wired, 29 Nov. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'egoism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.