Definition

Noun: 1. An exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself: A strong focus on and positive regard for one's own person, qualities, or well-being, which can be healthy or become excessive. 2. Feelings of excessive pride: An inflated sense of one's own importance or worth; conceit.

Usage and Examples

• Healthy self-regard:
  • Practicing self-love is important for mental health.
  • Her journey of self-love helped her overcome years of self-doubt.
• Excessive self-admiration:
  • His self-love was so extreme that he couldn't accept any criticism.
  • The politician's speech was criticized for its tone of pure self-love.

Advanced Usage

• Psychological context: In modern psychology, "self-love" is often discussed as a necessary component of self-esteem and well-being, distinct from narcissism.
  • The therapist emphasized that self-love is not selfishness but a foundation for healthy relationships.
• Philosophical context: Historically, the concept has been examined in philosophy, sometimes viewed critically as a form of egoism.
  • The philosopher argued that unchecked self-love is the root of many social ills.

Variants and Related Words

• Self-care (n): The practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health and well-being, often seen as an act of self-love.
  • For her, a quiet evening reading was an essential part of her self-care routine.
• Self-esteem (n): Confidence in one's own worth or abilities.
  • Children need encouragement to build healthy self-esteem.
• Narcissism (n): Excessive interest in or admiration of oneself and one's physical appearance. (This is a more clinical and extreme term related to pathological self-love).
  • His behavior crossed the line from confidence into narcissism.

Synonyms

• Self-admiration: Regard for oneself with pleasure or satisfaction.
• Self-regard: Consideration for oneself; concern for one's own interests.
• Conceit: Excessive pride in oneself.
• Egoism: An ethical theory that treats self-interest as the foundation of morality; also, excessive concern for oneself.

Antonyms

• Self-hatred: Intense dislike of oneself.
• Selflessness: Concern more with the needs and wishes of others than with one's own.
• Humility: A modest view of one's own importance.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To be full of oneself: To be very self-centered or conceited. (This idiom conveys a negative sense similar to excessive self-love).
  • Ever since he got promoted, he's been completely full of himself.
• To look out for number one: To take care of oneself first, often prioritizing one's own interests above others'. (This can relate to a pragmatic or selfish form of self-love).
  • In this competitive industry, you have to look out for number one.

Noun

1. an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself
   • self-love that shut out everyone else
2. feelings of excessive pride