as in identity
the set of qualities that make a person different from other people
he spent a year in a monastery determining the core of his selfhood
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of selfhood
In their world, which is also ours, selfhood has degraded into taste, preferences, demography, and outlays of attention and money.
—
Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Whether your child is looking to invest in sustainability or clothing items from yesteryear, brands are answering the call with products that cater to a growing desire for selfhood and identity.
—Kristin Braswell, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025
Concepts like zero, karma, ahimsa, non-duality, and moksha shaped not just her identity but how the world understands selfhood, suffering, time, and truth.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
This intimate portrait offers rare access to a vanishing nomadic circus community, tracing seven years in the life of a young man caught between tradition and selfhood.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfhood
Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Whether your child is looking to invest in sustainability or clothing items from yesteryear, brands are answering the call with products that cater to a growing desire for selfhood and identity.
—Kristin Braswell, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025
Concepts like zero, karma, ahimsa, non-duality, and moksha shaped not just her identity but how the world understands selfhood, suffering, time, and truth.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
This intimate portrait offers rare access to a vanishing nomadic circus community, tracing seven years in the life of a young man caught between tradition and selfhood.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selfhood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selfhood
Noun
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That begins with limiting visibility, then challenging language and identity, followed by removing symbols.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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The school’s superintendent, Ken Floyd, said the shooter had been identified, but the identity would not be released at this time, reported the Associated Press.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In the years following his appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Puth worked for DeGeneres' eleveneleven label, released a couple of promotional singles, and collaborated on other music, including jingles and theme songs for YouTube personalities.—
Marina Johnson,
IndyStar,
8 Feb. 2026
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Spencer Pratt, a reality television personality who lost his home in the Palisades fire, has also filed to run for mayor, framing his candidacy around frustration with the city’s response to the wildfire and broader concerns about quality of life and the lack of infrastructure.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Selfhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selfhood. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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