Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of self-interest But Kim makes decisions based not on mutual trust but on cold calculations of self-interest. Victor Cha, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2025 Yet critics argue that hegemonic systems often mask the self-interest of the dominant state, using consent to obscure coercion. Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 30 May 2025 Another study in 2014 found that the youngest party members are more likely to report self-interest, such as helping their careers, advancing politically and improving social status, as their reasons for joining. Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 29 May 2025 Presidents presumably would be more inclined to think more about the national interest and less about their self-interest. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-interest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-interest
Noun
  • Unfortunately, people can gravitate more toward selfishness, self-centeredness and being mean spirited.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
  • And still, in an era where selfishness can be an easy path to take, Branch had already decommitted once and never planned on doing it again.
    Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Perfect for a vanity, living room, or anywhere that could use additional seating, this upholstered throne has earned over 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon for its softness, back support and ease of assembly.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2025
  • Even the smallest guest room, at 516 square feet, provides guests with ample space to spread out, with double vanities and a deep soaking tub in the bathroom.
    Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • When leaders tune in without ego, teams feel safe, seen and energized.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • He was hired as a guy to document the fruition of Stockton’s dream from the start of the whole thing, which tells you the kind of ego that Stockton had.
    Addie Morfoot, Variety, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • Trump’s slogans—America First and Make America Great Again—embody the essence of populism, namely using ideology to advance a political program that is morally unconstrained and driven by collective egoism.
    BÁLINT MADLOVICS, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Psychological egoism is at play here, too, with Jimmy’s extreme emotional investment in getting Grace help.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-interest. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on self-interest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!