as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
his overweening self-admiration blinded him to constructive criticism of any kind
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Recent Examples of self-admiration
Most of the film plays out in something close to real time, and the directors, loath to hurry scenes along, slow the action down with a technical virtuosity that sometimes tilts into self-admiration.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
At first, Oliver meekly and gratefully laps up, metaphorically, the warm milk of affection that the family bestows on him between their rounds of backbiting and oblivious self-admiration.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2023
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
At first, Oliver meekly and gratefully laps up, metaphorically, the warm milk of affection that the family bestows on him between their rounds of backbiting and oblivious self-admiration.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-admiration
Noun
-
The result is an almost weary vanity, in which the author plays himself as if under duress, simultaneously flourishing and folding up the self.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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Its offerings—face oils, supplements, vitamin treatments, and serums—reflect a holistic approach to skincare, treating the skin as an organ and prioritizing health over vanity.—
Ian Malone,
Vogue,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Our state and federal politicians must insist on order and basic due process in ICE’s performance of its duties, not the chaos and confusion inherent in playing up to Trump’s enormous ego, tiny vocabulary and constantly flip-flopping orders, statements and media posts.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
4 July 2025
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These are the sorts of fantasies that cultivate the delicate, fledgling egos of the inexperienced, giving them enough hope, whether about their good fortune or their capacity to aestheticize bad fortune, to continue into the uncertain future.—
Book Marks
July 3,
Literary Hub,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
But much to the couple’s pride and relief, the crash didn’t pull the family apart.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 July 2025
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The Children’s Village offers hands-on activities, storytelling, games and crafts that inspire cultural pride.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Putin’s arrogance in wanting total Ukrainian surrender could prove his downfall, if only Trump sticks to his position.—
Daniel Fried,
Time,
15 July 2025
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The arrogance wasn’t hers alone; many people have tried to assign the Tully monster a place in the tree of life since it was first discovered 70 years ago.—
Cody Cottier,
Discover Magazine,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-admiration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-admiration. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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