Meaning & use
narcissistic behavior
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Meanings
noununcountable
A pattern of acting in which someone constantly seeks admiration and treats other people as less important than themselves.
Grammar: Uncountable, so it has no plural: say 'narcissistic behavior', not 'a narcissistic behavior'.
Patterns
- show narcissistic behavior
- narcissistic behavior toward someone
- a pattern of narcissistic behavior
His constant need for praise and his habit of ignoring other people's feelings look like narcissistic behavior.
The therapist explained that narcissistic behavior often makes close relationships very difficult.
Critics described the manager's narcissistic behavior as a refusal to share credit with the team.
nouncountabletechnical
A single act of this kind, considered as one instance among many.
Grammar: Countable here, usually in the plural: 'narcissistic behaviors' means several specific acts.
Patterns
- a narcissistic behavior
- narcissistic behaviors
Taking all the credit and never apologizing are narcissistic behaviors that wear people down.
Researchers listed the narcissistic behaviors most often reported by partners.
Word forms
| plural (rare, technical) | narcissistic behaviors |
|---|
Common combinations
- exhibit narcissistic behavior
- The patient began to exhibit narcissistic behavior after the promotion.
- a pattern of narcissistic behavior
- Friends noticed a pattern of narcissistic behavior that had lasted for years.
- narcissistic behavior toward someone
- His narcissistic behavior toward his staff finally caused several resignations.
- borderline narcissistic behavior
- Some of what she does is borderline narcissistic behavior rather than a disorder.
Synonyms and how they differ
- self-centeredness
- Focuses on thinking mainly about yourself; it is broader and less clinical than narcissistic behavior.
- arrogance
- Means an exaggerated sense of your own importance, but it does not necessarily include the need for constant admiration.
- egotism
- A formal word for talking and thinking too much about yourself; it sounds less psychological than narcissistic behavior.
Opposites
Word family
- narcissism noun
- The personality trait of admiring yourself too much and needing praise.
- narcissist noun
- A person who shows this pattern of behavior.
- narcissistic adjective
- Describing someone or something that shows this self-admiring quality.
Commonly confused: narcissistic behavior or self-esteem?
narcissistic behavior vs self-esteem
Self-esteem is a normal, healthy feeling of your own worth; narcissistic behavior is an unhealthy pattern of demanding admiration and looking down on others.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
As a general pattern the phrase is uncountable, so it takes no article and no plural: 'shows narcissistic behavior'. Option 1 wrongly adds 'a', and option 2 wrongly makes it plural for a general habit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “narcissistic behavior”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.