Definition of self-seekernext
as in opportunist
one who does things only for his own benefit and with little regard for right and wrong he's a self-seeker who is nice only to people who can do him favors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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-seeker Thus the self-seekers and the doctrinaires were drawn together into an alliance to maintain the status quo, and all its abuses and inequalities were made sacrosanct. Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-seeker
Noun
  • Straight men are just catching up, vanity-wise, and political opportunists have eagerly fed into their insecurities.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The exploitation of American history by Beck and the opportunists in his orbit is nothing new.
    Alexis Coe, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Fittingly, the song’s thumping beat is heard twice, real loud, in Rosebush Pruning, Karim Aїnouz’s high-gloss, pitch-dark satire about an American family described by one of its scions as mediocre, vapid egotists, who will never have to work thanks to a large inheritance.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The former vice-president’s characterizations of peers such as Pete Buttigieg (talented but too gay for the America to accept as her running mate), and Josh Shapiro (an egoist) are not particularly juicy, but have already caused bad blood.
    Book Marks September 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
  • His characters come off as feisty egoists who enjoy sparring and comparing the size of their ambitions.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • These sharks are thought to be bottom-feeders, preying on fish that frequent the floors of rivers and estuaries.
    John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Games against real teams will reveal far more about the Magic’s mindset than any blowout over a bottom-feeder.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Researchers are also exploring Greenland shark genetics for clues about aging.
    Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Other Notable Discoveries White himself identified four new species — a new skate, ray, deepwater catshark and chimaera — also known as a ghost shark.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Self-seeker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-seeker. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

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