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definitions

altruistic

[al-troo-is-tik]
See more synonyms for altruistic on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others (opposed to egoistic).
  2. Animal Behavior. of or relating to behavior by an animal that may be to its disadvantage but that benefits others of its kind, often its close relatives.

Origin of altruistic

First recorded in 1850–55; altru(ism) + -istic
Related formsal·tru·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbhy·per·al·tru·is·tic, adjectivenon·al·tru·is·tic, adjectivenon·al·tru·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms for altruistic

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1. charitable, generous, philanthropic; benevolent, unselfish.

Antonyms for altruistic

1. self-centered, selfish, mean.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for altruistically

warmly, enthusiastically, graciously, wholeheartedly, liberally, candidly, majestically, nobly, politely, unselfishly, altruistically, benevolently, charitably, chivalrously, genially, unreservedly

Examples from the Web for altruistically

Historical Examples of altruistically

  • Selfishly, altruistically, the story was the thing for him to do.

    To Him That Hath

    Leroy Scott

  • But the girl he saw from the car window—did she also appeal to him altruistically?

  • The three women fell to wrangling, altruistically, of course, over the two front seats.

  • The lieutenant, being young himself, was not so cautiously and altruistically apprehensive.

    The Storm Centre

    Charles Egbert Craddock

Word Origin and History for altruistically

altruistic

adj.

1853, from French altruiste (adj.), from altruisme (see altruism) + -ic.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper