special snowflake syndrome
- noun
- /ˈspɛʃəl ˈsnoʊfleɪk ˈsɪndroʊm/
- Offensive
:
síndrome del copo de nieve (ofensivo, coloquial)
- Her special snowflake syndrome made teamwork difficult because she felt her ideas were always superior.
Examples
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Some managers struggle with employees who display special snowflake syndrome and expect constant praise.
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Online forums often criticize users accused of special snowflake syndrome for demanding special treatment.
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Many people exhibit special snowflake syndrome in today's society.
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Have you noticed the rise of special snowflake syndromes among teenagers?
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Her special snowflake syndrome made it challenging for her to accept constructive feedback from her peers.
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In discussions about entitlement, many point to special snowflake syndrome as a growing social issue.
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He constantly displays special snowflake syndrome when he insists that his opinions are the only valid ones.
Synonyms
68
6.1
A feeling that you deserve special treatment without earning it
A way of thinking that makes you get upset when people criticize you and think you are special
Thinking you are the most important person in most situations
Antonyms
How Entitled
- Specialized
1
7.9
34
8.1
- Offensive
68
6.1
- US
2
5.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
special + snowflake + syndrome
Given knowledge of the constituents, the meaning is compositionally derivable: 'special' + figurative 'snowflake' (a person seen as overly sensitive/feeling uniquely special) yields 'special snowflake', and 'syndrome' signals a recurring pattern of attitudes. This follows normal English compounding patterns rather than an idiosyncratic idiom, so a learner who knows the three words can infer the MWE's meaning, although the figurative use of 'snowflake' is culturally recent.
Etymology
Special snowflake syndrome uses the image of a snowflake — each one looks different and is fragile — to describe someone who thinks they are 'uniquely special'. So, it means a person who behaves as if they must have special treatment or are 'entitled'.