as in egotistical
overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests
a selfish desire to succeed at the expense of others
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of selfish
While soccer is a team game, Guardiola instructs players to first focus on excelling personally—to be selfish.
—
Rachana Adyanthaya, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Pope in New York slams ‘selfish’ thirst for power and wealth
Pope Francis endorses the Iran nuclear deal at U.N., but his focus remains the poor and vulnerable.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
No, these co-workers are selfish and inconsiderate Miss Manners: Heroes?
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2025
But the opening scene underlines just how much Joel’s rash, deadly, selfish, ferociously loving decision hangs over these beloved characters.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfish
Rachana Adyanthaya, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Pope in New York slams ‘selfish’ thirst for power and wealth
Pope Francis endorses the Iran nuclear deal at U.N., but his focus remains the poor and vulnerable.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
No, these co-workers are selfish and inconsiderate Miss Manners: Heroes?
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2025
But the opening scene underlines just how much Joel’s rash, deadly, selfish, ferociously loving decision hangs over these beloved characters.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selfish
Adjective
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And for any fan of the show — and Wilson’s over-the-top, egotistical Dwight — the lyrics might not be a total surprise.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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In the 1998 episode, Theroux, 53, appears briefly as an egotistical writer who flirts with Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw at a party.—
John Russell,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The New York Knicks’ offense in Monday night’s 100-94 Game 2 loss to the Detroit Pistons was egocentric.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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The two-time Tony Award nominee is currently treading the boards in the musical adaptation of Death Becomes Her, bringing audiences to their feet eight shows a week as Helen Sharp, the downtrodden author in a forever feud with her frenemy, egocentric actress Madeline Ashton (Megan Hilty).—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some may have narcissistic tendencies, where putting others down gives them a sense of superiority.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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Our study shows that narcissistic children often emerge as leaders in their classrooms.—
Eddie Brummelman,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The second thing is that a lot of our discussion about happiness is overly self-centered.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
30 Apr. 2025
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Ava Daniels is a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to an insensitive tweet and her reputation for being self-centered and arrogant.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Carrie already knew that her father was self-absorbed and irresponsible.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2025
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Or as desperate as affluent people can be while also being completely self-absorbed.—
Glenn Kenny,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In fact, that country’s name has become shorthand for a certain solipsistic dread in American popular culture.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2025
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The dissolution of the Family is seen as a sad, painfully slow affair, as, like Brian Wilson before him, Stone drifted off into his own solipsistic world of experimentation.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Not just for this reason, but also due to the fact she’s been so self-involved the past year.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
2 Feb. 2025
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A little self-involved, but the check clears either way.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
16 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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The potential for self-serving bias and belief bias are evident.—
Dr. Gleb Tsipursky,
Forbes,
27 Mar. 2023
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For officials in China and Russia, de facto adversaries of the United States, the Iraq War is an easy precedent to put forward to shoot down Washington’s talking points, no matter how self-serving and cynical that may be.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
Washington Post,
17 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Selfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selfish. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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