self-pity

American  

[self-pit-ee, self-] / ˌsɛlfˈpɪt i, ˈsɛlf- /

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.

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self-pity British  

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• self-pitying adjective
• self-pityingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of self-pity

First recorded in 1615–25

Example Sentences

As before, she addressed the material with curiosity and a total absence of self-pity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Dane said he spent most of his life “wallowing and worrying in self-pity, shame and doubt.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

In an early review, Le Monde praised the book, saying: "Gisele Pelicot tells her story without bravado or self-pity."

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

He called Jamieson "a coward" who was "consumed by self-pity".

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

She had wanted him to make her feel justified, solidify her right to self-pity, encourage her to occupy a larger portion of the moral high ground.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie