as in selfness
excessive interest in oneself
in their self-involvement, they never noticed that one of their coworkers was on the verge of an emotional breakdown
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Recent Examples of self-involvement
Wettig noted in an August 2009 interview with NPR that though Thirtysomething's characters were often accused of being narcissistic by critics, their self-involvement was also reflective of the time.
—
Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
In terms that viewers of the original series might understand, Esmeralda falls somewhere between the tyranny of Michael Scott, the absurdity of Dwight Schrute, and the self-involvement of Kelly Kapoor with a particular charisma that only Impacciatore could pull off.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
She’s played by an A-list celebrity — Cate Blanchett — operating in a city renowned for its self-involvement and privilege.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
The conceit and self-involvement of Isabella’s brother John is also dispatched effectively, not with aphorism but with his own words.
—Adelle Waldman, New Yorker, 31 May 2025
But when we’re made to watch Tesfaye sing it in its entirety in an unbroken close-up while crying at the beauty of his own music, the introspection turns to simple self-involvement.
—Charles Bramesco, IndieWire, 15 May 2025
But there’s no monopoly on self-involvement, in my experience.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025
At the far opposite end of the adulthood spectrum is Jeff (Alex Wolff), a floppy mess of romantic misadventures and extravagant self-involvement and possibly the world’s most distracted producer.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
In terms that viewers of the original series might understand, Esmeralda falls somewhere between the tyranny of Michael Scott, the absurdity of Dwight Schrute, and the self-involvement of Kelly Kapoor with a particular charisma that only Impacciatore could pull off.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
She’s played by an A-list celebrity — Cate Blanchett — operating in a city renowned for its self-involvement and privilege.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
The conceit and self-involvement of Isabella’s brother John is also dispatched effectively, not with aphorism but with his own words.
—Adelle Waldman, New Yorker, 31 May 2025
But when we’re made to watch Tesfaye sing it in its entirety in an unbroken close-up while crying at the beauty of his own music, the introspection turns to simple self-involvement.
—Charles Bramesco, IndieWire, 15 May 2025
But there’s no monopoly on self-involvement, in my experience.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025
At the far opposite end of the adulthood spectrum is Jeff (Alex Wolff), a floppy mess of romantic misadventures and extravagant self-involvement and possibly the world’s most distracted producer.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-involvement
Noun
-
The selfish tyrant attaches himself only to those others who share his selfishness, who are eager to wear the mask of perpetual lying.—
David Brooks,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
If not for Camilla, who’d gone out of her way to take Regina in, even letting her share the bedroom with her and Lalla, the others wouldn’t have welcomed her—not out of spite, no, because none of them were spiteful after all, but out of indifference, selfishness, plain and simple.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Clear bins on a bathroom vanity are ideal for daily-use items, which Wells suggests storing in the front, and extra or backup toiletries in the back.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The old icebox turned vanity is a gift from a friend.—
Wendy Goodman,
Curbed,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The narcissism is built into the very structure of the question.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
My problem with gambling started years later, deeply rooted in ego and narcissism.—
Craig Carton,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s ego can take only so much criticism.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Time draws these kids osmotically through a membrane, turning them into things like us, adults captured by the brittle carapaces of our egos.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-involvement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-involvement. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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