selfishness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“First of all, I’ve served this party for a long time. I don’t do it out of selfishness, by any means,” she said at a Saturday gathering where she provided breakfast burritos to delegates.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2026

Not worrying about what others think of you reveals a selfishness, a lack of empathy, a disrespect for your professional environment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Abraham Lincoln, in a reply to Sen. Stephen Douglas dated October 16, 1854, said that slavery was founded in the selfishness of man’s nature and opposition to it was founded in his love of justice.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2025

"Economic selfishness is on the rise globally and we mustn't sit and cry about our difficulties, we must rise above and not allow others to hold us in their clutches."

From BBC • Aug. 26, 2025

It was all an exercise in selfishness, Jim thought.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French