self-absorbed

[ self-ab-sawrbd, -zawrbd, self- ]

adjective

1. preoccupied with one's own thoughts, interests, etc., especially to the extent that other people and things go unnoticed:

   She was criticized for being too self-absorbed, but she was an inventor, and when struck by an idea she had to shut the world out in order to focus on it.

self-absorbed

adjective

1. preoccupied with one's own thoughts, emotions, life, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-absorbed¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

In Confessions of an Ivy League Frat Boy, the self-induced, self-absorbed Greek tragedy of Andrew Lohse.

From The Daily Beast

She has a hard time getting the self-absorbed, self-loathing D-lister to open up (in between booze binges).

From The Daily Beast

The self-absorbed Bluth parents adopted Annyong from Korea for a better PR spin.

From The Daily Beast

It was all self-absorbed, shabby and suggestive of a leader about to take her troops over a cliff.

From The Daily Beast

The move was ill-advised—he lost handily—and Michelle felt it showed how self-absorbed her husband was.

From The Daily Beast

At present, Louis was too self-absorbed by the struggles within him, to look deep into what was passing around him.

From Project Gutenberg

Edna looked straight before her with a self-absorbed expression upon her face.

From Project Gutenberg

The more self-absorbed the actors showed themselves, the more keenly interested Minetta became.

From Project Gutenberg

The girl was an enigmatic creature, silent, self-absorbed, shrinking from the give-and-take of social life.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been silent and self-absorbed from the first, but he had never quite given up hope.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• egotistical
• narcissistic

More About Self Absorbed

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?

• self-centered
• narcissistic

What are some words that share a root or word element with self-absorbed? 

• self
• absorb
• selfie
• self-pity
• self-care
• self-love
• self-help

What are some words that often get used in discussing self-absorbed?

 

• selfish
• egotistical
• vain
• preoccupied
• wrapped up in
• thoughts
• wants
• needs

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