self-interested

A self-interested person only thinks about their own advantage.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Motivated by personal advantage: "self-interested" describes a person or action that is primarily driven by a desire to benefit oneself, often at the expense of others or without concern for their welfare.
   • Showing selfishness: It implies a focus on one's own interests, needs, or gains, sometimes to the point of disregarding ethical or communal considerations.

Usage Examples

• (He acted solely for his own benefit, ignoring others' feelings.)
• (The policies were designed to serve his personal or financial gain.)
• (She only contributed when it benefited her individually.)

Advanced Usage

• "self-interested motivation": a driving force rooted in personal gain.

  • The charity's founder was accused of having a self-interested motivation, as he used donations for personal luxuries. (His actions were not altruistic but for his own advantage.)

• "self-interested bargaining": negotiation tactics focused on one's own outcomes.

  • In the trade talks, each country engaged in self-interested bargaining, leading to a stalemate. (Each side only sought its own benefit, hindering agreement.)

Variants and Related Words

• Self-interest (noun): the condition of being concerned with one's own advantage.

  • Her self-interest was evident when she refused to share resources. (Her actions were guided by personal benefit.)

• Self-interestedly (adverb): in a manner driven by personal advantage.

  • He self-interestedly volunteered for the task only because it offered a promotion. (He did it for selfish reasons.)

Synonyms

• Selfish: focused on one's own needs without regard for others.

  • His selfish attitude made him unpopular. (He prioritized himself.)

• Egotistical: excessively self-centered or vain.

  • The egotistical manager took credit for everyone's work. (He acted out of self-interest.)

• Mercenary: motivated purely by money or material gain.

  • Her mercenary approach to business alienated partners. (She was self-interested in financial terms.)

Related Idioms

• Look out for number one: to prioritize one's own interests.

  • In this competitive industry, you have to look out for number one. (Act self-interestedly to survive.)

• Every man for himself: a situation where each person acts only for their own benefit.

  • When the ship started sinking, it was every man for himself. (Self-interested behavior emerged.)

Antonyms

• Altruistic: unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others.

  • Her altruistic donation to the shelter was the opposite of self-interested. (She acted without personal gain.)

• Selfless: lacking consideration for one's own interests.

  • The selfless nurse worked overtime to help patients. (She was not self-interested.)