Meaning & use

selfishness

noun·Everyday

The quality of caring mainly about one's own needs, wishes, or interests, with little regard for others.

See it in a sentence

His selfishness became obvious when he refused to share the credit for the project.

Pure selfishness drove her to take the last seat without asking anyone else.

A note on using this word

'Selfishness' is often confused with healthy 'self-care,' though the former disregards others while the latter does not.

Words with a similar meaning

self-interestegotism

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

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