self-absorption

[ self-ab-sawrp-shuhn, -zawrp-, self- ]

noun

1. preoccupation with oneself or one's own affairs, especially to the extent that other people and things go unnoticed:

   His self-absorption was ignored by his parents, who denied the possibility of its being symptomatic of autism.

self-absorption

noun

1. preoccupation with oneself to the exclusion of others or the outside world
2. physics the process in which some of the radiation emitted by a material is absorbed by the material itself

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-absorption¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

It's important to remember that Trump’s self-absorption runs so deep that his grasp on the reality of how others see him is often tenuous at best.

From Salon

"The self-absorption of the lovers, their descent into a destructive vortex, remains connected to the larger history of East Germany during this period, often meeting history at odd angles."

From BBC

The “self-absorption of the lovers” — a student and a 50-something novelist — and “their descent into a destructive vortex” tracks the history of East Germany before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, she said.

From New York Times

But Carell steers clear of anything resembling a star turn, preferring instead to be a witness to these theatrical proceedings until the crucial showdown with Alexander, whose titanic self-absorption Molina captures to perfection.

From Los Angeles Times

This disconnect also suggests that Trump's self-absorption is causing him to lose sight of what, exactly, his followers want from him.

From Salon

Related Words

• arrogance
• egotism
• narcissism
• self-confidence
• selfishness