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I think that in today's world, by nature, we are all self-centered. And that often leads to selfishness.
Gary Chapman

Meaning of "selfishness" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF SELFISHNESS

selfishness  [ˈsɛlfɪʃnɪs] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF SELFISHNESS

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Selfishness is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES SELFISHNESS MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Selfishness

Selfishness is placing concern with oneself or one's own interests above the well-being of others. Selfishness is the opposite of altruism or selflessness; and has also been contrasted with self-centredness.

Definition of selfishness in the English dictionary

The definition of selfishness in the dictionary is the quality of being chiefly concerned with your own interest, advantage, etc, esp to the total exclusion of the interests of others.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH SELFISHNESS


boorishness
ˈbʊərɪʃnɪs
Britishness
ˈbrɪtɪʃnɪs
childishness
ˈtʃaɪldɪʃnɪs
churlishness
ˈtʃɜːlɪʃnɪs
feverishness
ˈfiːvərɪʃnɪs
foolishness
ˈfuːlɪʃnɪs
foppishness
ˈfɒpɪʃnɪs
garishness
ˈɡɛərɪʃnɪs
lavishness
ˈlævɪʃnɪs
mawkishness
ˈmɔːkɪʃnɪs
offishness
ˈɒfɪʃnɪs
peevishness
ˈpiːvɪʃnɪs
prudishness
ˈpruːdɪʃnɪs
skittishness
ˈskɪtɪʃnɪs
sluggishness
ˈslʌɡɪʃnɪs
snappishness
ˈsnæpɪʃnɪs
snobbishness
ˈsnɒbɪʃnɪs
squeamishness
ˈskwiːmɪʃnɪs
stylishness
ˈstaɪlɪʃnɪs
unselfishness
ʌnˈsɛlfɪʃnɪs

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE SELFISHNESS

self-willed
self-winding
self-worship
self-worth
selfdom
selfheal
selfhood
selfie
selfish
selfishly
selfism
selfist
selfless
selflessly
selflessness
selfness
selfsame
selfsameness
selfward
selfwards

WORDS THAT END LIKE SELFISHNESS

brashness
bullishness
business
Caithness
Englishness
freshness
greenishness
harshness
highness
Jewishness
lushness
much of a muchness
muchness
rashness
richness
roughness
Royal Highness
smoothness
suchness
thoroughness
toughness

Synonyms and antonyms of selfishness in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «SELFISHNESS»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «selfishness» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of selfishness

Translation of «selfishness» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF SELFISHNESS

Find out the translation of selfishness to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of selfishness from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «selfishness» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

自私
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

egoísmo
570 millions of speakers

English

selfishness
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

स्वार्थ
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

الأنانية
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

эгоизм
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

egoísmo
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

আত্মম্ভরিতা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

égoïsme
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Mementingkan diri sendiri
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Selbstsucht
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

身勝手さ
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

이기심
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Selfishness
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

ích kỷ
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

சுயநலம்
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

स्वार्थ
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

bencillik
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

egoismo
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

egoizm
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

егоїзм
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

egoism
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

εγωισμός
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

selfsug
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

själviskhet
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

egoisme
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of selfishness

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «SELFISHNESS»

The term «selfishness» is quite widely used and occupies the 41.733 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
81
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «selfishness» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of selfishness
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «selfishness».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «SELFISHNESS» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «selfishness» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «selfishness» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about selfishness

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «SELFISHNESS»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word selfishness.
1
Chris Adami
We found evolution will punish you if you're selfish and mean. For a short time and against a specific set of opponents, some selfish organisms may come out ahead. But selfishness isn't evolutionarily sustainable.
2
Kristin Armstrong
Running fills the cup that has to pour out for others. Running feeds the soul that has a responsibility to nourish. Running sets the anchor that limits the drift of the day. Running clears the mind that has a myriad of challenges to solve. Running tends to the self so that selfishness can subside.
3
Jane Austen
Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure.
4
Ezra Taft Benson
Selfishness is one of the more common faces of pride. 'How everything affects me' is the center of all that matters - self-conceit, self-pity, worldly self-fulfillment, self-gratification, and self-seeking.
5
Andrew Coyle Bradley
We might not object to the statement that Lear deserved to suffer for his folly, selfishness and tyranny; but to assert that he deserved to suffer what he did suffer is to do violence not merely to language but to any healthy moral sense.
6
John Bytheway
Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and choosing to be curious about other people.
7
Peter Carey
I have written a memoir here and there, and that takes its own form of selfishness and courage. However, generally speaking, I have no interest in writing about my own life or intruding in the privacy of those around me.
8
Gary Chapman
I think that in today's world, by nature, we are all self-centered. And that often leads to selfishness.
9
David Chase
I think for anyone who follows the 'artistic life,' a certain amount of selfishness and self-involvement is part of the package. You're probably already disregarding a certain material life you could have.
10
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
All sympathy not consistent with acknowledged virtue is but disguised selfishness.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «SELFISHNESS»

Discover the use of selfishness in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to selfishness and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Healthy Selfishness: Getting the Life You Deserve Without ...
Introduces a plan for a better, healthier lifestyle that calls for a "healthy selfishness" that can be applied to such areas of life as friends, family, weight control, money, and work, and that emphasizes a proper balance in every aspect ...
Richard Ferdinand Heller, Rachael F. Heller, 2006
2
The Virtue of Selfishness
Ayn Rand here sets forth the moral principles of Objectivism, the philosophy that holds human life--the life proper to a rational being--as the standard of moral values and regards altruism as incompatible with man's nature, with the ...
Ayn Rand, 1964
3
Selfishness, Altruism, and Rationality
Selfishness, Altruism, and Rationality, first published in 1982, is a work of great value not only to economists and political scientists specializing in public choice but to all those interested in social theory.
Howard Margolis, 1984
4
What about Me?: Stop Selfishness from Ruining Your Relationship
"What About Me?" will help readers discover what role selfishness is playing in their relationship while helping them better understand what drives their partner to behave selfishly.
Jane Greer, 2010
5
Sacred Selfishness: A Guide to Living a Life of Substance
This is the lesson of Sacred Selfishness, in which Jungian analyst Bud Harris argues persuasively that one must live authentically in order to be whole, happy, healthy, and a truly contributing member of society.
Bud Harris, PhD, 2011
6
The Calculus of Selfishness
The Calculus of Selfishness looks at social dilemmas where cooperative motivations are subverted and self-interest becomes self-defeating.
Karl Sigmund, 2010
7
The Genial Gene: Deconstructing Darwinian Selfishness
Does a "selfish gene" create universal sexual conflict? In "The Genial Gene, "Joan Roughgarden forcefully rejects these and other ideas that have come to dominate the study of animal evolution.
Joan Roughgarden, 2009
8
The Politics of Selfishness: How John Locke's Legacy is ...
In this thought-provoking book, the author argues that a preoccupation with the self and its solitary concerns—a mindset that is Locke's legacy—is at the root of America's present political and economic problems.
Paul L. Nevins, 2010
9
Original Selfishness: Original Sin and Evil in the Light of ...
Defends an idea that the age-old theological and philosophical problems of original sin and evil have already been solved.
Daryl P. Domning, 2006
10
Selfishness a Whale of a Story
It unlocks the lost message of the story of Jonah, a prophet of God driven primarily by selfishness - not only rebellion - to defy God's will.
Phillip D. Williams, 2011

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «SELFISHNESS»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term selfishness is used in the context of the following news items.
1
NSW must overcome selfishness to win another State of Origin
If I could use one word to describe the overriding view I have of NSW State of Origin campaigns over the past decade, I would say, "selfishness". Yes, selfishness ... «Sydney Morning Herald, Jul 15»
2
Ayn Rand's philosophy of selfishness has a deep influence on the …
In her bestselling books and essays, Rand frankly celebrated selfishness and greed – and the underside of this celebration is a scorn toward and demonization ... «Raw Story, Apr 15»
3
Is It Selfish For a Woman to Declare That She's Done with Blowjobs?
Am I being selfish? Probably. But I don't care. In fact, I firmly believe this perceived selfishness is owed to me. This selfishness comes from many years of having ... «Jezebel, Mar 15»
4
The super-rich and sordid tales of selfishness
If the mainstream media made the effort to analyze and report the facts, the whole country would know about a level of selfishness that has spiraled out of control ... «Press TV, Nov 14»
5
Creative selfishness
Creative selfishness. email · print. Comment. About this blog. Recent Posts. Charter review a strong likelihood now. July 1, 2015 6:25 p.m.. Starting a ... «The Patriot Ledger, Nov 14»
6
Spare me the selfishness of the eco-toffs
Greens believe they occupy the moral high ground of politics. But their policies deny the poor the chance to succeed. A confession: I voted for the Green party in ... «The Times, Nov 14»
7
Billy Graham: Christ can quell your selfish spirit and make you more …
The real issue, however, is that impatience is the fruit of a far more serious problem: selfishness. We get impatient because we want things done our way, and ... «Kansas City Star, Sep 14»
8
Incredibly unusual ads take top Cannes awards
CANNES, France — Ads themed on self-discipline and selfishness grabbed the attention of judges at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity on Saturday. «USA TODAY, Jun 14»
9
My Team's Selfishness Is Great for Our Clients
Selfishness. It's an ugly word. And yet, nurturing selfishness -- inviting it into the light, treating it like something beautiful -- has benefitted my company's clients in ... «Huffington Post, May 14»
10
Let's fight the selfishness in our minds – President Mahama
President Mahama has called on Ghanaians to take the lessons of Christ's suffering for humanity and sacrifice, and “fight the selfishness in our minds” for the ... «Citifmonline, Apr 14»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Selfishness [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/selfishness>. May 2024 ».
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