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narcissism

[ nahr-suh-siz-em ]
/ ˈnɑr səˌsɪz ɛm /
See synonyms for: narcissism / narcissistic / narcissist / narcistic on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

SYNONYMS FOR narcissism

1 self-centeredness, smugness, egocentrism.
See synonyms for narcissism on Thesaurus.com

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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. 2; 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, narcist, nounnar·cis·sis·tic, nar·cis·tic, adjectivenon·nar·cism, nounnon·nar·cis·sism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to narcissism

selfishness, self-absorption, arrogance, self-possession, self-importance, self-regard, egomania, presumption, self-love, self-confidence, boasting, overconfidence, vainglory, ego, pride, gasconade, assurance, haughtiness, ostentation, vanity

Example sentences from the Web for narcissism

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

Medical definitions for narcissism

narcissism
[ när′sĭ-sĭz′əm ]

n.

Excessive love or admiration of oneself.
A psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem.
Erotic pleasure derived from contemplation or admiration of one's own body or self, especially as a fixation on or a regression to an infantile stage of development.
The attribute of the human psyche characterized by admiration of oneself but within normal limits.

Other words from narcissism

nar′cis•sist n.nar′cis•sis′tic adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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.