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

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

It wouldn’t be surprising to hear that when Aster catches himself getting maudlin, he forces himself to actively wallow in self-pity until it feels like a joke.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2025

“If you knew what I’d had to put up with recently,” he said almost tearfully—and the uprush of his self-pity was like a fountain suddenly released.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley