self-preservation
noun
self-pres·er·va·tion
ˌself-ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən 
1
: preservation of oneself from destruction or harm
2
: a natural or instinctive tendency to act so as to preserve one's own existence
Examples of self-preservation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To look away is an act of both will and denialism, a form of self-preservation.
—
David Remnick, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
It’s been inadvertently fanned by a dispirited, seemingly hapless, Democratic Party and the capitulation of critical institutions such as law firms, corporations and universities that are more focused on self-preservation than honoring their historic missions.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
An important reason why the recall vote was defeated is a testament to the Taiwanese people’s desire to maintain a thriving democracy and a semblance of checks and balances, but on a very practice level, saw the KMT and TPP work closely together for self-preservation.
—Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images When it was reported last month that Anthropic’s Claude had resorted to blackmail and other self-preservation techniques to avoid being shut down, alarm bells went off in the AI community.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-preservation
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David Remnick, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
It’s been inadvertently fanned by a dispirited, seemingly hapless, Democratic Party and the capitulation of critical institutions such as law firms, corporations and universities that are more focused on self-preservation than honoring their historic missions.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
An important reason why the recall vote was defeated is a testament to the Taiwanese people’s desire to maintain a thriving democracy and a semblance of checks and balances, but on a very practice level, saw the KMT and TPP work closely together for self-preservation.
—Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images When it was reported last month that Anthropic’s Claude had resorted to blackmail and other self-preservation techniques to avoid being shut down, alarm bells went off in the AI community.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-preservation
Cite this Entry
“Self-preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-preservation. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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