Word
narcissist
Phoneticsnar·cis·sist, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈnɑɹsɪsɪst/
UK/nˈɑːsɪsˌɪst/
Countable noun
Definition
n. someone who thinks about themselves too much and admires their own appearance or abilities. You use this to describe a person who lacks care for others because they are so focused on themselves.
n. a person who displays an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves. In clinical psychology, an individual with a specific personality disorder characterised by grandiosity and a profound lack of empathy.
Examples
“My former boss was a narcissist who never listened to anyone else.”
“He proved to be a complete narcissist, constantly steering every conversation back to his own achievements and ignoring his friends' problems.”
“The novel's protagonist is an unrepentant narcissist whose inability to recognise the emotional needs of his family ultimately leaves him isolated in his sprawling, empty mansion.”
Examples
simple
“My former boss was a narcissist who never listened to anyone else.”
contextual
“He proved to be a complete narcissist, constantly steering every conversation back to his own achievements and ignoring his friends' problems.”
complex
“The novel's protagonist is an unrepentant narcissist whose inability to recognise the emotional needs of his family ultimately leaves him isolated in his sprawling, empty mansion.”
Usage
Frequently modified by adjectives like 'malignant' or 'covert' in psychological contexts, and 'complete' or 'total' in everyday speech.
Real-World Examples
“Narcissists were also more likely than nonnarcissists to accept a job with a better title than a job with higher pay.” “After his sister overdoses, he hears his father describing him as “a black hole … a narcissist, through and through”.” “Narcissists are also better at grooming themselves so they are better looking because of that.” Etymology
From Narcissus (“a character in Greek mythology who became obsessed with his own reflection”) + -ist.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Stories
Greek Mythology · See all Greek myth origin
Expressions the ancient Greek myths left in everyday English.
a Herculean task — A task requiring enormous strength, effort, or determination to complete.
a Pyrrhic victory — A win that costs so much it feels almost like a defeat.
a Sisyphean task — A task that is endless and futile, because it must be repeated forever without ever being finished.
Achilles' heel — A single hidden weakness in someone or something otherwise strong.
Ariadne's thread — A method or clue that guides you safely through a confusing, complicated problem.
atlas — a book of maps or a collection of charts; it can also refer to a specific bone in your neck or a figure from Greek mythology.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/narcissist