Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Selfish character, disposition, or conduct; exclusive or chief regard for one's own interest or happiness.
- noun Synonyms Selfishness, Self-love. See the quotations.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The quality or state of being selfish; exclusive regard to one's own interest or happiness; that supreme self-love or self-preference which leads a person to direct his purposes to the advancement of his own interest, power, or happiness, without regarding those of others.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun the quality of being
selfish , the condition of putting one's own interests before those of others
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun stinginess resulting from a concern for your own welfare and a disregard of others
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The latter part of his system is clearly countenanced by the sacred writings; and it does appear to be a stretch of language, to apply the term selfishness to the longing which the sincere Christian feels for the full enjoyment of God.
The Philosophy of the Moral Feelings John Abercrombie 1812
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It is what I call selfishness, and selfishness is a most detestable thing, especially to any one of my temperament, for I am well known for my sympathetic nature.
The Happy Prince and Other Tales Oscar Wilde 1877
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When a man forbids his wife to marry again without losing what he leaves -- it's what I call selfishness after death.
Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures Douglas William Jerrold 1830
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But today's Republicans are a nihilistic pack who would turn against everything their predecessors believed in, in the name of selfishness and greed.
Richard (RJ) Eskow: The New GOP: Anti-Kids, Anti-Jobs, Anti-Business... And Anti-Republican RJ 2011
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But today's Republicans are a nihilistic pack who would turn against everything their predecessors believed in, in the name of selfishness and greed.
Richard (RJ) Eskow: The New GOP: Anti-Kids, Anti-Jobs, Anti-Business... And Anti-Republican RJ 2011
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Saying that the losing over the course of the year led to "a corrupt mindset within the locker room," McElroy said the team indeed had Super Bowl talent but scuttled it away in the name of selfishness.
Jets Rookie Criticizes Locker-Room Mentality Chris Herring 2012
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You may have missed it, but the party of selfishness is now in the deep, deep minority in this country.
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Worse, her entire output can be summed up in the three words: “selfishness is good.” wiley says:
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The ignorance, arrogance, and selfishness is simply amazing.
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But today's Republicans are a nihilistic pack who would turn against everything their predecessors believed in, in the name of selfishness and greed.
Richard (RJ) Eskow: The New GOP: Anti-Kids, Anti-Jobs, Anti-Business... And Anti-Republican RJ 2011
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