Meaning & use
egotistical
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Meaning
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Thinking too highly of yourself and talking too much about your own abilities or importance.
Grammar: Can take more/most in natural comparisons: more egotistical than his brother.
Patterns
- egotistical behavior
- an egotistical remark
- sound egotistical
His egotistical comments made the team uncomfortable.
It sounds egotistical to claim you never need help.
The interview showed a surprisingly egotistical side of the actor.
Word forms
| comparative | more egotistical |
|---|---|
| superlative | most egotistical |
Common combinations
- egotistical attitude
- Her egotistical attitude pushed clients away.
- egotistical behavior
- Bragging after every win is egotistical behavior.
- incredibly egotistical
- Demanding the largest office was incredibly egotistical.
Synonyms and how they differ
- conceited
- Too proud of yourself; often about appearance or minor success, slightly less broad than egotistical.
- self-centered
- Focused on your own needs; it need not involve boasting like egotistical often does.
- arrogant
- Shows insulting confidence; stronger in manner than egotistical, which stresses self-importance.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: egotistical or egoistic? egotistical or egocentric?
egotistical vs egoistic
Egoistic is a technical ethical term about self-interest; egotistical is the everyday criticism of self-importance.
egotistical vs egocentric
Egocentric views everything from one's own perspective; egotistical stresses boastful self-importance.
Practice
Which sentence uses “egotistical” with the correct critical tone?
Choose one answer.
Egotistical criticizes excessive self-focus, so bragging about one's genius fits. Careful preparation, a lock, and a money-saving plan do not by themselves show self-importance.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “egotistical”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.