e ‧ go ‧ tis ‧ tic ‧ al /ˌiːɡəˈtəstɪkəl◂, ˌiːɡəˈtɪstɪkəl◂, ˌeɡ-/ BrE AmE adjective
someone who is egotistical likes to talk about how great and important they think they are:
He’s a selfish, egotistical individual!
—egotistically /-kli/ adverb
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ selfish thinking only about what you need or want, and not thinking about how other people feel or what other people want – used especially when criticizing a person or their behaviour:
Amy, don’t be selfish. Let the others have a turn.
|
'I’m not doing this for selfish reasons,' he said.
|
It was a very selfish thing to do.
▪ egocentric ( also self-centred British English , self-centered American English ) believing that what you do and think is the most important thing, and not paying attention to what anyone else thinks or does – used when describing someone’s personality:
Teenagers can be highly egocentric, and sometimes find it difficult to see another person’s point of view.
|
Children start off as self-centred little beings and they do not naturally think of the other person.
▪ egotistical believing that you are better or more important than other people:
Like many famous writers I’ve met, he was arrogant and egotistical.
|
He’s just another young player who has gone out of control in the increasingly egotistical world of professional sports.
▪ self-serving only thinking of getting advantages for yourself:
People’s fears are exaggerated by self-serving politicians.
|
They described the report as ‘self-serving and contradictory’.
▪ think of nobody but yourself ( also only think about yourself ) to only think of what you want to do, and not consider what other people want – often used when criticizing someone who does this:
The trouble with Alan is that he thinks of nobody but himself.
|
Before I had children, I only thought about myself and what I wanted.
▪ it’s always me me me! informal used when criticizing someone for being selfish:
It’s always me, me, me with you and I have had enough. I don’t need this – you’re welcome to yourself, my dear.