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What's the word for someone who only cares about themselves?
The word you're looking for
A narcissist is someone who is excessively self-centered and has an excessive need for admiration from others. This perfectly describes someone who only cares about themselves and their own interests.
Other words that fit
Use this more formal or literary alternative when discussing someone who is self-centered and boastful about their own importance and abilities.
Use this when describing someone with extreme, almost obsessive self-importance that borders on delusion or is pathological in intensity.
Why this word
A narcissist is someone with excessive self-centeredness and an abnormal need for admiration from others. The term comes from Greek mythology and describes both a personality type and a clinical diagnosis (Narcissistic Personality Disorder). In everyday English, people use "narcissist" to describe someone who shows self-centered behavior combined with a lack of empathy for others. It's more common than formal alternatives like "egotist" and more clinical than casual phrases like "selfish person." Be careful not to overuse it as a casual insult—it's best reserved for describing genuine patterns of self-centered behavior.
In context
- He's a narcissist who only thinks about himself and ignores others' feelings.
- That narcissist expects everyone to admire them constantly.
- She displayed narcissistic behavior by refusing to listen to anyone else's perspective.
Other concepts to find a word for
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'narcissist' the same as 'selfish'?
- Not exactly. A selfish person cares mainly about their own needs, but a narcissist goes further—they need excessive admiration and lack empathy for others. Narcissism is more extreme and psychological.
- What's the difference between 'narcissist' and 'egotist'?
- An egotist is self-centered and boastful about their abilities. A narcissist has deeper psychological traits including a need for admiration and lack of empathy. 'Narcissist' is more popular in modern English.
- Can you describe a single action as narcissistic?
- Yes. You can say 'That was narcissistic behavior' or 'That narcissistic comment,' but calling someone 'a narcissist' usually means they have a consistent pattern of such behavior.
- Is narcissism a clinical diagnosis?
- Yes. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a real mental health diagnosis, but the word 'narcissist' is also used in everyday conversation to describe very self-centered people.