selfishness

Meanings

• Noun

  A personality trait where an individual prioritizes their own needs, desires, and interests above those of others.

  - "His selfishness prevented him from donating to charity."
  - "She was criticized for her selfish behavior towards her friends."

• Noun

  The act of putting one's own interests before those of others.

  - "The company's policy of putting profits over people's welfare is a form of corporate selfishness."
  - "The selfishness of some politicians can lead to political instability."

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Antonyms

selflessness

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with selfishness
elfishness , welfaresness , shelfishness

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Variants

List of all variants of selfishness that leads to same result
selfishness , selfishnesses

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Middle English selve, seolf, meaning 'oneself'; from Old English sēlf, sealf; related to Old English seolh, seolfe, meaning 'body, self, soul'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'selfish gene' was coined by biologist Richard Dawkins to describe genes that promote their own replication.

2. Selfishness is not always a negative trait. In some cases, such as when an individual needs to prioritize their own health, it can be beneficial.

3. The term 'selfish' was first used in English in the 15th century.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Egoism: A philosophical belief that an individual's self-interest is the highest moral value.

2. Altruism: The opposite of selfishness, where an individual prioritizes the needs and interests of others before their own.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Selfishness has been a theme in literature and art throughout history. It is often portrayed as a negative trait, leading to social isolation and conflict. In literature, characters such as Iago in Shakespeare's 'Othello' and Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' are examples of selfish characters. In art, self-portraits can be seen as an expression of an artist's selfishness in focusing on their own image.

How to Memorize "selfishness"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a person hoarding resources while others go without.
   - Visualize someone refusing to help others in need.

2. associate
   

   - Associate selfishness with the image of a person with a closed fist.
   - Think of the Grinch from Dr. Seuss's 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' as an example of selfishness.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Selfishness starts with 'S' and so does 'Self'.
   - Selfishness is 'Self'ish.

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