Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance: Describes a person who thinks they are much more important, intelligent, or capable than they really are.
   • Self-centered; excessively focused on oneself: Describes a person who is primarily concerned with their own interests, needs, and feelings, often ignoring those of others.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • His egotistical behavior made it difficult for him to maintain friendships.
  • She gave an egotistical speech, talking only about her own achievements.
  • An egotistical disregard for the team's input led to the project's failure.

Advanced Usage

• "Egotistical to the core": Fundamentally and completely self-centered.
  • The character in the novel is portrayed as egotistical to the core, caring for no one but himself.
• Used in formal critiques (e.g., literary, psychological, social) to describe a personality flaw.
  • The critic analyzed the politician's egotistical rhetoric.

Variants and Related Words

• Egotistic (adj): A less common variant with the same meaning as "egotistical."
• Egotism (n): The quality or state of being egotistical; excessive and boastful reference to oneself.
  • His constant egotism was tiresome.
• Egotist (n): A person who is egotistical.
  • He was known as an insufferable egotist.

Synonyms

• Conceited: Excessively proud of oneself.
• Narcissistic: Having an excessive interest in or admiration of oneself.
• Vain: Having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth.
• Self-important: Having an exaggerated sense of one's own value or importance.
• Swollen-headed: (Informal) Conceited; overly proud.

Antonyms

• Humble: Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.
• Modest: Unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements.
• Self-effacing: Not claiming attention for oneself; retiring and modest.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Full of oneself: Behaving in a very self-satisfied or egotistical way. (This is a common idiomatic expression conveying a similar meaning.)
  • After winning the award, he was full of himself for weeks.

Adjective

1. characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
   • a conceited fool
   • an attitude of self-conceited arrogance
   • an egotistical disregard of others
   • so swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty
   • growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary
   • vain about her clothes
2. characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance