self-absorbed
adjective
Origin of self-absorbed
Words nearby self-absorbed
VOCAB BUILDER
What does self-absorbed mean?
Self-absorbed is an adjective used to describe a person who’s preoccupied with their own wants and needs.
When used in this term, the word absorbed means deeply preoccupied or totally wrapped up in something—in this case, oneself.
Self-absorbed is almost always used negatively. When you call people self-absorbed, it usually means you think they only think about and care about themselves.
The term is typically used to describe a person’s overall personality (as opposed to their behavior on a certain day or at a certain time).
The state of being self-absorbed is called self-absorption (notice how the b becomes a p in the noun absorption).
Example: My therapist helped me to see how self-absorbed I was, only ever thinking about myself and making everything about me.
Where does self-absorbed come from?
The first records of the term self-absorbed come from the 1800s. The term is formed in the same way as its very close synonym self-centered. People who are self-centered are centered on themselves, and people who are self-absorbed are completely absorbed (totally preoccupied) with themselves.
We call people self-absorbed when it seems like they’re incapable of thinking of anything other than themselves. People who are self-absorbed will always find a way to talk about themselves, no matter what the topic of conversation is. When you try to talk to a self-absorbed person about your problems, they end up making everything about them.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to self-absorbed?
- self-absorption (noun)
What are some synonyms for self-absorbed?
What are some words that share a root or word element with self-absorbed?
What are some words that often get used in discussing self-absorbed?
How is self-absorbed used in real life?
Self-absorbed is almost always used negatively as a way to criticize people who only seem to be interested in themselves and their own needs.
Trying to tell a selfish, self absorbed person how you feel is literally like talking to a tree.
— ✨Taya La Bruja✨ (@triniricanbruja) May 13, 2020
i'm okay with people not receiving what i have to give because i don't tie my worth to how many people are receptive to me. people are unreceptive for a host of reasons and i'm not so self-absorbed to make myself the center of that. it is what it is. moving on.
— 🌿🌿🌿 (@viriyaakarunaa) May 13, 2020
Why do people like their own posts? I don’t see it much on Twitter, mostly Instagram and Facebook. It’s like the person saying, “Wow, I’m so self absorbed I might as well like this cuz it’s brilliant”
A sense of Hubris I suppose
Yes, I answered my own question
— NJsFinest (@The_Finest_Fam) May 13, 2020
Try using self-absorbed!
Which of the following words would NOT be used to describe someone who’s considered self-absorbed?
A. selfless
B. narcissistic
C. egotistical
D. vain