selfish

adjective

self·​ish ˈsel-fish How to pronounce selfish (audio)
Synonyms of selfish
1
: concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others
2
: arising from concern with one's own welfare or advantage in disregard of others
a selfish act
3
: being an actively replicating repetitive sequence of nucleic acid that serves no known function
selfish DNA
also : being genetic material solely concerned with its own replication
selfish genes

Synonyms of selfish

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Examples of selfish in a Sentence

She's interested only in her own selfish concerns. I wish he'd spend less time with his friends and more time with me. Am I being selfish?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Also on Weekend Update, James Austin Johnson portrayed a selfish Kevin O’Leary, the Shark Tank investor who is backing a massive data center campus in northwest Utah. — William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2026 That’s also how Violet is thinking about their portrayal of Maureen, whose eccentric performance art and selfish behavior often give the character a bad rap. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 In this manner, writing and fantasy relieves adults of the selfish flights of fancy that give rise to tension in our psyches. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 Great for the environment, which is the idea, but a selfish part of me longed to simply stand in a stream of warm water for a minute, without using any of my muscles—especially after five hours of hiking. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for selfish

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of selfish was in 1628

Rhymes for selfish

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Browse Nearby Words

self-involvement
selfish
selfishly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Selfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selfish. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

selfish

adjective
self·​ish ˈsel-fish How to pronounce selfish (audio)
: taking care of oneself without thought for others
selfishly adverb
selfishness noun

Medical Definition

selfish

adjective
self·​ish ˈsel-fish How to pronounce selfish (audio)
: being an actively replicating repetitive sequence of nucleic acid that serves no known function
selfish DNA
also : being genetic material solely concerned with its own replication
selfish genes
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