self-aggrandizement

[ self-uh-gran-diz-muhnt, self- ]

noun

1. increase of one's own power, wealth, etc., usually aggressively.

self-aggrandizement

noun

1. the act of increasing one's own power, importance, etc, esp in an aggressive or ruthless manner

Derived Forms

• ˌself-agˈgranˌdizing, adjective

Other Words From

• self-ag·gran·diz·ing [self, -, uh, -, gran, -dahy-zing], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-aggrandizement¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

He sought self-aggrandizement, and was extremely fond of killing.

From The Daily Beast

She took a drubbing, fielding accusations of self-aggrandizement from the financial press and fans alike.

From The Daily Beast

Self-aggrandizement via letting others depend on you can be a poor substitute for a sense of your own accomplishments.

From The Daily Beast

Some of the members stooped to petty acts for self-aggrandizement, breeding suspicion in the minds of many.

From Project Gutenberg

His career was not tarnished with bold strides of misguided ambition or base attempts at self-aggrandizement.

From Project Gutenberg

Inflamed by as intense an ambition as ever burned in a human bosom, every thought and energy was devoted to self-aggrandizement.

From Project Gutenberg

While they reasoned thus, the temptations of graft and self-aggrandizement overtook some of the leaders.

From Project Gutenberg

As soon as he came to power, he accepted every opportunity of self-aggrandizement as a new Smith prerogative.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arrogance
• narcissism
• self-absorption
• selfishness