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Synonyms for selfishness


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



Définition of selfishness

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.
  • noun self-regard
Example sentences :
  • But do try to believe, at the same time, that my own selfishness has been a kindness to you.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • "He is cruel, and the very incarnation of selfishness," he said.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • In the selfishness of his misery he looked upon this as lack of sympathy with himself.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • God had made Amy so that she had less trouble from selfishness than all but a few people.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • Ambition, selfishness, and the love of success, were alike his inspiration and his ruin.
  • Extract from : « The Boy Life of Napoleon » by Eugenie Foa
  • But I shall marry you in spite of your selfishness because I know you're as good as I'm likely to get!
  • Extract from : « The Foolish Lovers » by St. John G. Ervine
  • God's truth is universal; it cannot be monopolized by selfishness.
  • Extract from : « The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII) » by John Greenleaf Whittier
  • I warned you how it would be,—your own selfishness will betray and ruin you.
  • Extract from : « Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • If you know yourself, you will answer Pride, Selfishness, Ambition.
  • Extract from : « Pax Vobiscum » by Henry Drummond
  • A further obstacle to the progress of fellowship lies in selfishness.
  • Extract from : « The American Mind » by Bliss Perry

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