self-pity

[ self-pit-ee, self- ]

noun

1. pity for oneself, especially a self-indulgent attitude concerning one's own difficulties, hardships, etc.:

   We must resist yielding to self-pity and carry on as best we can.

self-pity

noun

1. the act or state of pitying oneself, esp in an exaggerated or self-indulgent manner

Derived Forms

• ˌself-ˈpityingly, adverb
• ˌself-ˈpitying, adjective

Other Words From

• self-pity·ing adjective
• self-pity·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-pity¹

First recorded in 1615–25

Example Sentences

Yet even as the Germans wallowed in bitter self-pity, another defeated superpower underwent a dramatic turnaround.

From The Daily Beast

He drained the wine from the tumbler and turned away from the window, and there was no self-pity in his gravelly voice.

From The Daily Beast

Also, the lack of self-pity was part of the ideology when I grew up.

From The Daily Beast

Kandynce remained where she was and evidenced not a twinge of self-pity.

From The Daily Beast

It is a potential firelighter of vanity, self-pity and logorrhoeic dullness.

From The Daily Beast

The Reverend swallowed again, struggled to keep his eyes dry, for the rush of self pity almost overcame him.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the springs of self-pity were touched and she would have stopped the sale had she dared or known quite how.

From Project Gutenberg

But the light died out, and an expression of almost self-pity supplanted it.

From Project Gutenberg

He even considered himself, with great self-pity, returning and finding her married and happy, of course.

From Project Gutenberg

When he had eaten the bread of affliction, seasoned with tears of self-pity and remorse, mamma re-appeared with papa.

From Project Gutenberg