selfishness
Use Selfishness in a sentence
fɪʃ adjective
1.
devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.
2.
characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself: selfish motives.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To selfishness
Collins
World English Dictionary
selfish (ˈsɛlfɪʃ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | chiefly concerned with one's own interest, advantage, etc, esp to the total exclusion of the interests of others |
| 2. | relating to or characterized by self-interest |
| 'selfishly | |
| —adv | |
| 'selfishness | |
| —n | |
00:10
Selfishness
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| selfish (ˈsɛlfɪʃ) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | chiefly concerned with one's own interest, advantage, etc, esp to the total exclusion of the interests of others |
| 2. | relating to or characterized by self-interest |
| 'selfishly | |
| —adv | |
| 'selfishness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
selfish
1640, from self (q.v.). Said in Hacket's life of Archbishop Williams (1693) to have been coined by Presbyterians. In the 17c., synonyms included self-seeking (1628), 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]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
At first sight, helping charities looks to be at the opposite end of the selfishness spectrum from conspicuous consumption.
AA teaches that extreme selfishness is the main problem an alcoholic faces, drunk or sober.
The inception of their story is based more on animosity, manipulation and selfishness.
And, by telling people that it's all about selfishness, you're alienating a huge potential part of the market unnecessarily.
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