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Antonyms for selfish

Grammar : Adj
Spell : sel-fish
Phonetic Transcription : ˈsɛl fɪʃ


Definition of selfish

Origin :
  • 1630s, from self- + -ish. Said in Hacket's life of Archbishop Williams (1693) to have been coined by Presbyterians. In the 17c., synonyms included self-seeking (1620s), self-ended and self-ful.
  • Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to, because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs. [Richard Dawkins, "The Selfish Gene," 1976]
  • Related: Selfishly; selfishness. Cf. similar formations in German selbstisch, Swedish sjelfvisk, Danish selvisk.
  • adj thinking only of oneself
Example sentences :
  • It ain't a selfish feeling, so I know there's some good in it.
  • Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
  • It is a spirit contracted in its views, selfish in its objects.
  • Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various
  • She had no affection for this selfish invalid, this weak, peevish bully.
  • Extract from : « Life and Death of Harriett Frean » by May Sinclair
  • But the feelings of Cornelius in no case deserved consideration—they were so selfish.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • We could at least enjoy the selfish satisfaction of faring better than our neighbours.
  • Extract from : « The Roof of France » by Matilda Betham-Edwards
  • He had raised the boy wrong—he had taught him to be selfish.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • They are both afraid, now that Mrs. Whitney—selfish creature!
  • Extract from : « The Bacillus of Beauty » by Harriet Stark
  • He was a selfish man, and wanted the glory of the day to be all his own.
  • Extract from : « In the Midst of Alarms » by Robert Barr
  • We have been selfish, sister, in urging our visit at such hazard.
  • Extract from : « The Last of the Mohicans » by James Fenimore Cooper
  • How do you know Antoun Effendi thinks you selfish and obstinate?
  • Extract from : « It Happened in Egypt » by C. N. Williamson

Synonyms for selfish

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019