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self-seeking

self-seeking

7.7
Doing things only to get personal gain while ignoring other people
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛlfˌsiːkɪŋ/
translation icon : egoísmo
  • The sharpest example of Mill's speaking in the name of England and claiming authoritative knowledge of who represents England's essence is when he acknowledges the most ignoble instances of British self-seeking in India.

So self seeking is the worst thing to have and I don't see you self seeking at all.

Examples

  • In England, Mill implies that self-seeking, mediocrity-pushing, and conformist conduct are superficial malformations of character.

    Academic text (2016)
  • His self-seeking attitude often alienates his friends, as he prioritizes his own interests above everyone else's.

  • The day would dawn when men and women would take their lives in their own hands and not be self-seeking beings or the playthings of blind forces that they did not understand.

    Blog text (28)
  • Self-seeking, too, is an infelicitous but corrigible consequence of civilizational progress, in this case of material improvement.

    Academic text (2016)
  • In insisting on professionalism and official correctness within the company, though, Mill actually reveals how pervasive self-seeking behavior was outside it.

    Academic text (2016)
  • The New Left's diffused family, for all its lofty promise, leads inexorably to poverty, the natural offspring of self-seeking disorder.

    Blog text (28)
  • Now, I hasten to say there is no reason to think that all or even most corporate managers engage in amoral, reckless, and socially destructive self-seeking, or that their lawyers believe it is their sworn duty as zealous advocates to help them do so.

    Academic text (2017)
  • In a meeting filled with self-seeking individuals, it was difficult to focus on the team's needs instead of personal agendas.

  • The politician's self-seeking actions led to widespread criticism for ignoring the concerns of his constituents.

Synonyms

selfishness
vsself-seeking
50 3.0

Caring only about yourself and not about other people

is the active pursuit of advantage rather than a passive trait
self-interest
vsself-seeking
49 4.0

Wanting what is best for you and not caring about others

is the active practice of pursuing advantage rather than mere thinking
opportunism
vsself-seeking
8 7.3

Taking chances to help yourself even if it hurts others or your values

is a broader pursuit of advantage not only limited to seizing chances
self-aggrandizement
vsself-seeking
  • Formal
4 9.9

Trying to make yourself seem more important or powerful than you are

is the pursuit of personal advantage broadly not only self-promotion
self-centeredness
vsself-seeking
  • US
2 5.8

Only caring about your own needs and wants

is about actively pursuing advantage rather than just holding that attitude
egoism
vsself-seeking
2 7.2

A habit of caring mainly about your own needs and not others

is the deliberate pursuit of advantage in action rather than a mere tendency
selfism
vsself-seeking
9.5

Putting your own needs before the needs of other people

is the active pursuit of advantage rather than only an expressed belief
self-concern
vsself-seeking
5.3

Care for your own needs and interests

is about actively seeking advantage not only caring or worrying

How Selfish

selfishness
50 3.0
self-seeking
7.7
self-interest
49 4.0

Surface Forms

self-seeking singular
self-seekings plural

Morphology

self-seeking = self + seek (transparent) = self + seek + ing

The noun sense is derived from the compound 'self' + 'seeking' and directly denotes the practice of seeking one's own advantage.

Etymology

Self-seeking comes from the parts self ('your own') and seek ('to look for' or 'try to get'), so it literally means 'seeking for yourself'. That's why, as a noun, it means the practice of putting your own interest first, often with little care for others.