solipsistic

American  

[sol-ip-sis-tik] / ˌsɒl ɪpˈsɪs tɪk /

adjective

1. of or characterized by solipsism, or the theory that only the self exists, or can be proved to exist.

   Her treatment philosophy dealt with madness as a complete, self-contained, solipsistic world that sane people are not able to enter.

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Etymology

Origin of solipsistic

solips(ism) + -istic

Explanation

Someone who's solipsistic is so focused on their own wants and needs that they don't think about other people at all. You could also call a solipsistic person selfish or self-centered. Solipsistic has a different meaning if you hear it in a philosophy class. In this case, it describes the theory that the only thing you can know for sure is that your own mind exists. When your brother accuses you of being solipsistic, he probably means you're only thinking of yourself. If he tells you he broke his leg and you say, "Does that mean we can't go to Disneyland next week?" then he's right to call you solipsistic!

Example Sentences

Straub suggests that we may all be in our own solipsistic alternate universes, incomprehensible to one another.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025

At the same time, he continues to throw himself a great pity party, wraps himself in his solipsistic view of victimhood, wailing like a banshee and gnashing his teeth in anger.

From Salon • May 30, 2024

“Most explanations for why women aren’t having children focus on individual choices made by individual women,” Heffington writes, but this solipsistic emphasis is misguided.

From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2023

When I first saw “Bardo,” it struck me as — almost objectively speaking — Iñárritu’s most solipsistic effort.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 23, 2022

Maybe it was stupid and solipsistic, but I liked to think about me.

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini