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Glite Dictionary
self-deceit

self-deceit

7.4
Refusing to admit unpleasant truths about yourself
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛlf dɪˈsiːt/
translation icon : autoengaño

Examples

  • And I don't think one should be too hard on one's self.

    The Object of My Affection (1998)

  • "Satan represents a beacon of honesty in a sea of mass self-deceit."

    The Coronating (2023)

  • The effeminate product of decadence and self-deceit, they are shrill and hysterical like only the most shrewish of harridans.

    Blog text (29)

  • She realized that her self-deceit was preventing her from seeing the reality of her situation.

  • His self-deceit led him to ignore the evidence that contradicted his beliefs.

  • Many people fall into self-deceit when they refuse to face their mistakes.

Synonyms

self-deception
vsself-deceit
5 6.5

Believing something that is not true because it feels better

refuses to accept an unpleasant fact and so avoids facing reality

Antonyms

self-awareness
15 4.2

To know your own character, feelings, and reasons

truthfulness
13 2.7

Being honest and not telling lies

How Self-Deceptive

delusion
199 6.7
self-deceit
7.4
denial
  • Specialized
235 5.9

Surface Forms

self-deceit singular
self-deceits plural

Morphology

self-deceit = self + deceit (transparent) = self + deceit

The meaning is directly derived from 'self' + 'deceit' (deceiving oneself), following standard compounding logic.

Etymology

Self-deceit breaks into self ('oneself') and deceit ('to trick'), so it means 'tricking yourself'. Think of it as covering your eyes or telling yourself a kinder story to avoid a hard truth, and that is why self-deceit means refusing to see or accept an unpleasant truth about yourself.