selfish

adjective

self·ish ˈsel-fish

Synonyms of selfish

: concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others

: arising from concern with one's own welfare or advantage in disregard of others

a selfish act

: 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

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.

Steve Bova, another friend and former director of the international division at Systematics, recalled how Steuri was anything but selfish. — Dylan Sherman, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026 But the most terrifying characters are the broken, vain, selfish parents who in one way or another cause their children so much harm. — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Wasserman Schultz’s decision to run in the historically Black 20th Congressional District was selfish and opportunistic carpetbagging, a devastating usurpation of power from Black Floridians. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Both make token contributions to efforts to support Ukraine, often for selfish reasons. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 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

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Selfish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selfish. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

selfish

adjective

self·ish ˈsel-fish

: taking care of oneself without thought for others

selfishly adverb

selfishness noun

Medical Definition

selfish

adjective

self·ish ˈsel-fish

: 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

selfish

adjective

Synonyms of selfish

Examples of selfish in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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selfish

adjective

Synonyms of selfish

Examples of selfish in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for selfish

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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