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egoism

egoism

2 7.2
A habit of caring mainly about your own needs and not others
  • noun
  • /ˈiːɡoʊɪzəm/
translation icon : egoísmo
  • In contrast, a degree of egoism penetrates the spirit of modern professional caring.
  • a form of egoism

No, no, it's, it's a little bit getting away from the egoism that normally motivates you.

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Examples

  • This is the age-old clash between egoism and altruism.

  • So altruism is about others, egoism is about the self.

  • The tendencies of human subjects towards rationalization, towards taking the easier road, and towards egoism are well known.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Let feeble souls from fear or absurd egoism cherish such thoughts.

  • Encountering alterity may bring about all types of feelings related to both egoism and altruism.

    Academic text (2006)
  • We will protect them as long as they still require protection, while working toward a day when the creatures of this earth no longer have to suffer man's egoism, insensitivity, and greed.

  • Summing up, with the end of ideology and the ascendancy of relativism and egoism, the moral authority of the family has been severely impaired.

    Academic text (1991)
  • But what the public fails to recognize—what they fail to admit, in their collective egoism—is that a born biophysicist benefits us all.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Many politicians are often accused of egoism when they prioritize their own agendas over the needs of their constituents.

  • His egoism was evident when he dismissed his friend's concerns in favor of his own interests.

Synonyms

selfishness
vsegoism
50 3.0

Caring only about yourself and not about other people

is the overall tendency that may or may not show active disregard
self-interest
vsegoism
49 4.0

Wanting what is best for you and not caring about others

is the wider pattern of concern that can include this single-minded thinking
self-importance
vsegoism
8 6.2

Thinking you are more important than other people

is about concern for personal interests rather than an inflated self view
egotism
vsegoism
7 6.1

Thinking and talking about yourself too much and feeling better than others

is about concern for personal welfare rather than self promotion or talkativeness
self-absorption
vsegoism
4 8.1

Being very interested only in your own thoughts and feelings and ignoring other people

is the outward tendency to favour personal interests rather than inward preoccupation
self-centeredness
vsegoism
  • US
2 5.8

Only caring about your own needs and wants

is the broader tendency that can include but is not limited to exclusionary focus
egocentrism
vsegoism
1 8.8

Believing your own needs and views are more important than other people's

is the general self-focused tendency rather than a cognitive centering on perspective
egocentricity
vsegoism
1 8.2

A habit of putting your own needs before other people's

is the broader disposition that may or may not include ignoring others
self-concern
vsegoism
5.3

Care for your own needs and interests

is the general tendency, sometimes leading to excluding others' needs
selfism
vsegoism
9.5

Putting your own needs before the needs of other people

is the general tendency, not necessarily framed as a declared belief or practice
narcism
vsegoism
  • US
8.2

Too much love of yourself that makes you ignore other people

is the basic concern with personal interests without the added admiration aspect

Antonyms

24 6.5

Caring about other people's needs more than your own

14 3.9

To care more about other people's needs than your own

How Self-Centered

narcissism
34 8.1
egotism
7 6.1
selfishness
50 3.0
egoism
2 7.2
self-interest
49 4.0
altruism
24 6.5

Surface Forms

egoism singular
egoisms plural

Morphology

egoism = ego (transparent) = ego + ism

The general behavioral sense ('tendency to put one's own interests first') is a direct result of combining 'ego' with '-ism' indicating a characteristic or tendency.

Etymology

The word egoism comes from ego 'I' plus -ism 'a way of acting or belief', and the same ego appears in egocentric. So egoism means a habit or tendency to put 'I' and your own needs first, sometimes ignoring others.