selfless

[self-lis] / ˈsɛlf lɪs /

ADJECTIVE

unselfish

Synonyms

STRONGEST

altruistic charitable generous humanitarian loving magnanimous noble self-effacing

WEAK

benevolent chivalrous denying devoted disinterested extroverted helpful incorruptible indulgent liberal open-handed self-denying self-forgetful self-forgetting self-sacrificing

Antonyms

STRONGEST

mean selfish stingy

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.

Musk spent three days on the stand portraying himself as a selfless benefactor seeking to reconcile the advancement of AI with the preservation of humanity.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

This "selfless" sharing, known as horizontal gene transfer, can rapidly spread useful traits including genes that confer resistance to antibiotic drugs used to treat infections.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

Anthropic and its chief executive, Dario Amodei, in some accounts, are selfless heroes, acting against the incentives that normally operate in business.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

"From different parts of Australia, and around the world, these Bravery honourees are characterised by their selfless, courageous, and determined response in unspeakable and horrific circumstances," Australia's Governor-General Sam Mostyn said.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

In matters of selfless love, nothing needed to be said, and she would protect her sister, even if Cecilia failed to acknowledge her debt.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Vocabulary lists containing selfless

Giving Words

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'Tis The Season: Words For Giving

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You're Too Kind! Synonyms for "Generous"

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