narcissist

American  

[nahr-suh-sist] / ˈnɑr sə sɪst /

Also narcist

noun

1. a person who is overly self-involved, and often vain and selfish.

2. Psychiatry. a person who has narcissistic personality disorder.

3. Psychoanalysis. a person who experiences or exhibits narcissism, deriving erotic gratification from admiration of their own physical or mental attributes.

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Etymology

Origin of narcissist

First recorded in 1915–20; narciss(ism) + -ist

Compare meaning

How does narcissist compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• egomaniac vs. narcissist
• narcissist vs. selfish

Explanation

The noun narcissist refers to someone intensely concerned with only his or her own self or interests and who seems to forget that others exist. The noun narcissist today means someone only concerned with his or her own interests or predicament and its origin is from Greek mythology. Narcissus was a hunter who was exceptionally beautiful and also just as proud of his looks, ignoring other people around him. He was punished by the gods by falling in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Not realizing it was himself he loved, he eventually died from unrequited love.

Example Sentences

Jacob Skidmore, a 23-year-old with NPD who runs accounts as The Nameless Narcissist on several social media platforms, says he often flips from feeling grandiose to vulnerable, sometimes multiple times a day.

From Scientific American • Aug. 16, 2023

Narcissist: “Is it just me, or am I hot in here?”

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2020

The severity of the word she chose varied from day to day, as did the “buttons” I chose for her: Narcissist.

From The New Yorker • Jul. 8, 2019

Dr. Jackson is a specialist in Sycophantic Medicine and is considered an expert in the treatment of Severe Narcissist Syndrome.

From New York Times • Mar. 28, 2018

"Narcissist" got quite a few votes, you may be happy to hear.

From US News • Oct. 18, 2016