SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
self-absorbed
adjective
Preoccupied with one's own thoughts, concerns, or interests.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Preoccupied with oneself
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topSelf-absorbed concerns attention to one's own thoughts or interests. Narcissistic can make a stronger judgment and should not be treated as a clinical diagnosis here.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See self-absorbed in use
The self-absorbed character rarely notices how her choices affect her friends.
A self-absorbed performer kept discussing her own nerves while failing to notice that a friend was struggling to carry two large instrument cases.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license