self-serving

[ self-sur-ving ]

adjective

1. preoccupied with one's own interests, often disregarding the truth or the interests, well-being, etc., of others.
2. serving to further one's own selfish interests.

self-serving

adjective

1. habitually seeking one's own advantage, esp at the expense of others

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-serving¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Fox and Musk have gotten away with spreading disinformation because of a self-serving misapprehension of the political speech doctrine: The First Amendment protects ‘core political speech’ above all other forms of expression.

From Salon

Capitol and tried to overturn the 2020 election, egged on by his unremitting and self-serving lies.

From Los Angeles Times

Nearly any New Yorker could have told you that “The Donald” was a grasping, self-serving dude as far back as the 1980s.

From Salon

The willpower to build more housing often falters in the face of apparently prohibitive costs, political opposition and self-serving incentives, a reality that is playing out on the state and local level.

From Salon

“I’ve tried to take an objective view of things, and bring it all to light. But I didn’t want to be self-serving. I tried not to sugar coat the story.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• boastful
• pompous
• self-absorbed
• selfish
• subjective