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selfishly

selfishly

18 3.4
Acting in a way that helps only yourself and not others
  • adverb
  • /ˈsɛlfɪʃli/
translation icon : egoístamente
  • By speaking selfishly about her own achievements, she alienated her friends who worked hard too.
  • act selfishly

That being said, selfishly I hope he is.

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Examples

  • Although I think at times they'd be happier apart, I selfishly want them together.

    Blog text (19)
  • I did it selfishly to satisfy my own attraction to inner peace.

    Academic text (1990)
  • That being said, selfishly I hope he is.

  • I promise you they are selfishly driven as well.

  • But selfishly, I convinced her to stay.

  • You put everyone in danger when you act selfishly.

  • Sometimes, it is necessary to take care of oneself selfishly, he said.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • I have to say, selfishly, it's been so nice since you're back from Hollywood and we're all together again.

  • Look, selfishly, I wanna spend as much time with you guys as I can... before I have to go to Ashley's album release in Miami.

  • Selfishly, I'm just asking for my friends -- only child gone, work at a standstill.

Synonyms

greedily
vsselfishly
7 2.7

Wanting a lot in a very selfish way, often food or money

is about caring only for personal needs rather than craving possessions
inconsiderately
vsselfishly
1 6.5

Without thinking about other people's feelings

is about deliberate concern only for personal needs rather than mere thoughtlessness
narcissistically
vsselfishly
1 8.5

In a way that shows too much pride and a need for attention

is about caring only for personal needs rather than seeking admiration
egotistically
vsselfishly
1 7.7

In a way that shows someone thinks they are better than other people

is focused on caring only for personal needs rather than showing excessive pride
egocentrically
vsselfishly
8.2

Thinking only about yourself and not about others

is about caring only for personal needs rather than just thinking
egoistically
vsselfishly
8.1

In a selfish way that shows care only for your own needs

is centered on ignoring others' needs and feelings rather than advantage

Antonyms

7 3.8

In a way that puts other people's needs before your own

3 3.7

Showing care for other people more than for yourself

Acting to help other people without wanting anything in return

How Selfish

selfishly
18 3.4

Surface Forms

selfishly positive
selfishlyer comparative
selfishlyest superlative

Morphology

selfishly = selfish (transparent) = self + ish + ly

The adverb is formed regularly from the adjective 'selfish' with '-ly', so the meaning is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

The word selfishly comes from self 'one's own' plus the endings -ish and -ly, where -ish means 'like' and -ly turns the word into a way to describe how someone acts. So, to act selfishly is to act 'only for yourself' without thinking of others.