Narcissistic: meaning, definitions and examples

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narcissistic

 

[ nɑːrˈsɪsɪstɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

personality trait

Having an excessive interest in oneself, one's appearance, and one's abilities. It often includes a lack of empathy for others.

Synonyms

conceited, egocentric, self-absorbed, self-centered.

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Word Description / Examples
narcissistic

When describing a personality that is excessively self-admiring to the extent of being unhealthy and possibly destructive.

  • His narcissistic behavior made it difficult for him to maintain healthy relationships
self-centered

When referring to someone who prioritizes their desires and needs above others'. This term carries a slightly negative connotation.

  • He is very self-centered, always thinking about what benefits him rather than the team
egocentric

When discussing someone who is focused on themselves and their own needs without considering others. This term is often used in both psychological and everyday contexts.

  • The child's egocentric view means he struggles to see things from other people's perspectives
self-absorbed

When describing a person who is preoccupied with their own feelings, interests, or situations, often at the expense of considering others.

  • She was so self-absorbed that she didn’t even notice her friend's distress
conceited

When referring to someone who has an excessively high opinion of their own abilities or looks. It’s often used in a somewhat mocking or critical sense.

  • She is so conceited that she thinks everyone is in love with her

Examples of usage

  • He is so narcissistic that he can't stop talking about himself.
  • She displayed narcissistic behavior by constantly checking herself out in the mirror.
  • The narcissistic boss only cared about his own success, ignoring the needs of his employees.
Context #2 | Adjective

psychology

Relating to narcissism, a personality disorder characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.

Synonyms

egotistical, self-loving, self-obsessed, vain.

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Word Description / Examples
narcissistic

Used to describe someone who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves. This term is often used in a psychological context to describe certain personality traits.

  • Her narcissistic tendencies made it difficult for her to form genuine relationships.
  • He was diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder.
egotistical

Used to describe someone who has an exaggerated sense of their own importance. This word often conveys a negative connotation.

  • His egotistical behavior alienated many of his colleagues.
  • She couldn't stand his egotistical attitude.
self-obsessed

Used to describe someone who is excessively focused on themselves, often to the point of neglecting others. This term is generally negative.

  • He's so self-obsessed that he didn't even notice she was upset.
  • Her self-obsessed nature made it hard for her to maintain friendships.
self-loving

A positive way to describe someone who loves and takes good care of themselves. This term has a more gentle and self-care oriented connotation.

  • Practicing self-loving habits can improve your mental health.
  • She's very self-loving and spends time every day focusing on her well-being.
vain

Used to describe someone who is overly concerned with their appearance or achievements. This term often has a negative connotation.

  • She spent hours in front of the mirror, constantly checking her hair, which seemed very vain.
  • Despite his achievements, he was surprisingly vain about minor things.

Examples of usage

  • The therapist diagnosed him with narcissistic personality disorder.
  • People with narcissistic tendencies often struggle in forming genuine relationships.

Translations

Translations of the word "narcissistic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 narcisista

🇮🇳 आत्ममुग्ध

🇩🇪 narzisstisch

🇮🇩 narsisistik

🇺🇦 нарцисичний

🇵🇱 narcystyczny

🇯🇵 自己陶酔的 (じことうすいてき)

🇫🇷 narcissique

🇪🇸 narcisista

🇹🇷 narsist

🇰🇷 자기애적인 (jagi-aejeog-in)

🇸🇦 نرجسي

🇨🇿 narcistický

🇸🇰 narcistický

🇨🇳 自恋的 (zìliànde)

🇸🇮 narcističen

🇮🇸 sjálfhverfur

🇰🇿 нарциссизм

🇬🇪 ნარცისიზმი (narcisizmi)

🇦🇿 narsist

🇲🇽 narcisista

Etymology

The term 'narcissistic' derives from the Greek myth of Narcissus, a beautiful youth who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. This myth serves as a metaphor for excessive self-love and vanity. The concept of narcissism was further developed in psychology by Sigmund Freud, who explored its role in the human psyche. Today, narcissistic traits are recognized in various personality disorders and have become a common topic of discussion in the fields of psychology and mental health.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,110, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.