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narcissism

[ nahr-suh-siz-em ]

/ ˈnɑr səˌsɪz ɛm /

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See synonyms for: narcissism / narcissistic / narcissist / narcistic on Thesaurus.com

noun

inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity.

Psychiatry. narcissistic personality disorder.

Psychoanalysis. erotic gratification derived from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes, being a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development.

OTHER WORDS FOR narcissism

1 self-centeredness, smugness, egocentrism.

See synonyms for narcissism on Thesaurus.com

VIDEO FOR NARCISSISM

Where Did The Word "Narcissist" Come From?

In conversation, we tend to use this word casually to mean "a person who is overly self-involved, and often vain, and selfish," but "narcissist" actually has a pretty sordid history.

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QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Also nar·cism

[nahr-siz-uhm]. /ˈnɑr sɪz əm/.

Origin of narcissism

First recorded in 1820–25, and in 1900–05 for def. 3; see narcissus, -ism. The psychoanalysis meaning is from the German word Narzissismus, coined in 1899 by Paul Näcke (1851–1913), German psychiatrist and criminologist

OTHER WORDS FROM narcissism

nar·cis·sist

[nahr-suh-sist], /ˈnɑr sə sɪst/, nar·cist

[nahr-sist], /ˈnɑr sɪst/, nounnar·cis·sis·tic, nar·cis·tic, adjectivenon·nar·cism, nounnon·nar·cis·sism, noun

Words nearby narcissism

Narbada, Narbonne, narc, Narcan, narceine, narcissism, narcissist, narcissistic, narcissistic personality, narcissistic personality disorder, narcissus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use narcissism in a sentence

Even if it’s not narcissism, as he posits, there’s a certain numbness that sets in after constant exposure to tragedy, even if it’s only on the TV.
Superficial Empathy and Watching the Afghan Tragedy On the Little Screen|Susanna Schrobsdorff|August 22, 2021|Time
Movies and TV have begun to reflect that trend, questioning the use of feminism to justify greed, exploitation, narcissism.
Pop Culture Is Finally Getting Over the Girlboss Heroine. What Comes Next?|Judy Berman|June 17, 2021|Time
The higher the level of narcissism, the higher the level of aggression.
Narcissistic People Aren’t Just Full Of Themselves – New Research Finds They’re More Likely To Be Aggressive And Violent|LGBTQ-Editor|May 31, 2021|No Straight News
We recently reviewed 437 studies of narcissism and aggression involving a total of over 123,000 participants and found narcissism is related to a 21% increase in aggression and an 18% increase in violence.
Narcissistic People Aren’t Just Full Of Themselves – New Research Finds They’re More Likely To Be Aggressive And Violent|LGBTQ-Editor|May 31, 2021|No Straight News

There’s a real narcissism at the heart of this push to police who can and can’t play certain roles.
Sia's Golden Globe-Nominated Music Isn’t Just Offensive. It’s Also Bad Art—and the Distinction Matters|Sarah Kurchak|February 25, 2021|Time
The characters are consumed less by technology and more by their own narcissism and the virus of fame.
David Cronenberg: Why Frustrated Novelists Hate the Screenplay|Craig Hubert|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Is this neurosis, narcissism, or the farsighted wisdom that allows a fellow to win three hundred games?
Will the Real Jim Palmer Please Stand Up|Tom Boswell|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But this is also a parody of narcissism, just a little detour to eternity.
Excuse Me For Not Dying: Leonard Cohen at 80|David Yaffe|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Crist really is that driven by narcissism, ambition, and personal vanity.
The Messy, Sordid Story of Jim Greer, Charlie Crist’s Man to a Fault|Rick Wilson|June 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Knausgaard has somehow pushed narcissism to such an extreme point that it takes on the appearance of total selflessness.
Fear And Self-Loathing In Scandinavia: The Fiction Of Karl Ove Knausgaard|Ted Gioia|May 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Narcissism is a result of stunted growth and of childhood abuse.
After the Rain|Sam Vaknin
But, in an effort to compensate for a deep-set inferiority complex, they react with vanity and narcissism.
After the Rain|Sam Vaknin

British Dictionary definitions for narcissism

narcissism

narcism (ˈnɑːˌsɪzəm)

/ (ˈnɑːsɪˌsɪzəm) /

noun

an exceptional interest in or admiration for oneself, esp one's physical appearance

sexual satisfaction derived from contemplation of one's own physical or mental endowments

Derived forms of narcissism

narcissist, nounnarcissistic, adjective

Word Origin for narcissism

C19: from Narcissus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for narcissism

narcissism

[ (nahr-suh-siz-uhm) ]

A consuming self-absorption or self-love; a type of egotism. Narcissists constantly assess their appearance, desires, feelings, and abilities.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.