egotism

(= egoism), noun

Darla's egotism will always thwart her chances for a lasting relationship

Syn:

self-centeredness, egomania, egocentricity, self-interest, selfishness, self-seeking, self-serving, self-regard, self-love, narcissism, self-admiration, vanity, conceit, self-importance; boastfulness

See also note at pride

••

egotism, conceit, egoism, narcissism, solipsism, vanity

Is the handsome, arrogant, successful politician who thinks the world revolves around him an egoist or an egotist? Egotism is a negative term that combines extreme self-preoccupation with a tendency to show off or attract attention, while egoism is a more neutral term for those who are preoccupied with their own needs and interests but do not necessarily consider themselves superior (the egoism of teenagers is well-documented). There is nothing neutral about conceit, which carries strong connotations of superiority and a failure to see oneself realistically (he was so rich and powerful that conceit came easily). Vanity, on the other hand, is not based so much on feelings of superiority as it is on a love for oneself and a craving for the admiration of others (his vanity drove him to cosmetic surgery). Narcissism and solipsism were once considered technical terms drawn from psychology and philosophy, respectively, but nowadays they are also in the general language. Narcissism means self-love and preoccupation with one's physical or mental attributes (the beautiful young actress had a reputation for narcissism), while solipsism refers to someone who is completely wrapped up in his or her own concerns (the solipsism of the theoretical mathematician).