self-absorption

[ self-ab-sawrp-shuhn, -zawrp-, self- ]

noun

1. preoccupation with oneself or one's own affairs, especially to the extent that other people and things go unnoticed:

   His self-absorption was ignored by his parents, who denied the possibility of its being symptomatic of autism.

self-absorption

noun

1. preoccupation with oneself to the exclusion of others or the outside world
2. physics the process in which some of the radiation emitted by a material is absorbed by the material itself

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-absorption¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

But for all his self-absorption, the Japanese Beethoven ought to have learned from his German counterpart in another manner.

From The Daily Beast

It seems like your piece is a sort of a satire of the self-absorption and self-obsession of humans.

From The Daily Beast

Almost 20 years before the HBO series of the same name, Ken Finkleman caricatured the self-absorption of TV news anchors.

From The Daily Beast

Her many style tics—stacked one atop the other—read as code for narcissism, self-indulgence, and brittle self-absorption.

From The Daily Beast

He is accused by his father and others of failure and self-absorption, of not being as clever as he thinks he is.

From The Daily Beast

She could drop into one of her moods of self-absorption, or speak as if she were thinking aloud.

From Project Gutenberg

Even were it easy to picture their existence, their self-absorption would prevent their being interesting.

From Project Gutenberg

"No," Adriance aroused himself from self-absorption to forbid the upheaval.

From Project Gutenberg

He was studying her as he stood before her, seeing suddenly after his momentary self-absorption, her pallor and thinness.

From Project Gutenberg

The self-absorption of the men, the calm glances of the women humbled our simple souls.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arrogance
• egotism
• narcissism
• self-confidence
• selfishness