as in generosity
a tendency to regard the well-being of others as more important than one's own well-being
She was widely admired for her selflessness and dedication to the cause.
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Recent Examples of selflessness
Her leadership, selflessness and competitiveness fit in with the culture being crafted in the Bay.
—
Marcus Thompson Ii,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism, and selflessness that define the wildland fire service.
—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
In Venezuela, this spirit of selflessness and volunteerism can help rebuild community and physical structures.
—
The Christian Science Monitor,
Christian Science Monitor,
25 June 2026
Both required enormous amounts of selflessness, stamina, plasticity, courage, and improvisation.
—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
We're taught that love is mostly a matter of selflessness, and that the best partners are the ones who give the most, defer the most and ask for the least.
—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
There has been an outpouring of support on social media for those who stopped to help, heralding their bravery and selflessness.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
The CalSTRS attorney’s actions showed courage and selflessness in the face of uncertainty and potential danger, Maduros said.
—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Marcus Thompson Ii,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service.
—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism, and selflessness that define the wildland fire service.
—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
In Venezuela, this spirit of selflessness and volunteerism can help rebuild community and physical structures.
—
The Christian Science Monitor,
Christian Science Monitor,
25 June 2026
Both required enormous amounts of selflessness, stamina, plasticity, courage, and improvisation.
—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
We're taught that love is mostly a matter of selflessness, and that the best partners are the ones who give the most, defer the most and ask for the least.
—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
There has been an outpouring of support on social media for those who stopped to help, heralding their bravery and selflessness.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
The CalSTRS attorney’s actions showed courage and selflessness in the face of uncertainty and potential danger, Maduros said.
—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selflessness
Noun
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But a wiser course might be to emphasize a kind of counter-nostalgia, reclaiming a mythic past for the forces of tolerance and democratic generosity.
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Perhaps subsequent history shows that his generosity of spirit was misplaced.
Noun
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All of us are invited to choose to become better human beings and to show up at work and in the world with increasing love, kindness, courage and forgiveness.
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That instinct to lean into life with curiosity, optimism, and kindness is, perhaps, America's greatest attraction.
Noun
-
An overall rise over the years in the number of Chinese billionaires and the age of many among them makes Cho upbeat about the direction of philanthropy in the country.
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The Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards first launched in 2001 to commemorate the accomplishments of Black talent across film and television, music, sports and philanthropy.
Noun
-
Lendeborg’s passing ability and unselfishness will also endear him to Steve Kerr, while his ability to cover ground in transition and run the court should fit well.
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More than any of them, Hart elevated unselfishness to an art form.
Noun
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This is a book of profound intellectual altruism and moral urgency that insists on summoning courage despite (or because of) societal and political cleavage.
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Musk did push for structures that would have given him control, and Altman and Brockman became extraordinarily wealthy from an organization built around the language of altruism.
Cite this Entry
“Selflessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selflessness. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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