narcissism

Also nar·cism

[nahr-suh-siz-em]

noun

1. inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity.

   Synonyms: egocentrism, smugness

2. Psychiatry.,  narcissistic personality disorder.

3. Psychoanalysis.,  erotic gratification derived from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes, being a normal condition at the infantile level of personality development.

narcissism

/ ˈnɑːsɪˌsɪzəm, ˈnɑːˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. an exceptional interest in or admiration for oneself, esp one's physical appearance

2. sexual satisfaction derived from contemplation of one's own physical or mental endowments

narcissism

1. A consuming self-absorption or self-love; a type of egotism. Narcissists constantly assess their appearance, desires, feelings, and abilities.

Other Word Forms

• narcissistic adjective
• narcissist noun
• narcist noun
• narcistic adjective
• nonnarcism noun
• nonnarcissism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of narcissism¹

First recorded in 1820–25, and in 1900–05 narcissism for def. 3; narcissus, -ism. The psychoanalysis meaning is from the German word Narzissismus, coined in 1899 by Paul Näcke (1851–1913), German psychiatrist and criminologist

Word History and Origins

Origin of narcissism¹

C19: from _Narcissus

Example Sentences

It answers Riefenstahl’s carefully chosen narrative, a fable of disillusioned purity, with an equally forensic counternarrative exposing her childlike narcissism about the impact of her talent.

From Los Angeles Times

To me the horror of the movie was about, from the child’s perspective, looking at all these adults who were totally incapable, whether it was due to addiction or narcissism.

From Los Angeles Times

The Guardian described it as a "gormless lifestyle filler" while The Telegraph gave it two stars and branded it "insane" and an "exercise in narcissism".

From BBC

Having been sober for many decades herself, Bev recognizes the narcissism of addiction, the way addicts have a tendency to put themselves at the center of the universe.

From Los Angeles Times

It's what earns his narcissism the modifier "malignant."

From Salon

Related Words

• arrogance 
• self-absorption 
• selfishness