as in generosity
a tendency to regard the well-being of others as more important than one's own well-being She was widely admired for her selflessness and dedication to the cause.
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of selflessness These include positive energy and inspiration, selflessness, continuous learning, grit, levity, and stewardship. —
Anand Kumar, STAT, 21 Apr. 2026 The couple was known for their final act of selflessness aboard the sinking ship. —CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026 The legend behind the festival tells the story of King Mahabali and his selflessness and devotion to the Hindu god Vishnu. —Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026 Betts credited the team’s selflessness, how players sacrificed for one another, for the good of the team. —Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026 There’s far more to love — vulnerability, courage, selflessness — just as there’s far more to the Dead. —Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026 Gray’s selflessness and willingness to play wherever his manager needs him are admirable but the long-term effects of this on his development need to be considered. —Jay Harris, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026 With acts of courage, themes of selflessness, and standing in the gap for others, this movie is a challenging and beautiful watch for the entire family. —Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026 The most agonizing and gripping sections of the book for me are the poet’s raw observations about where selflessness can lead you (as in Kimon’s exploitation by his culture, and younger writers) and how self-interest can be a kind of armor. —Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Anand Kumar, STAT, 21 Apr. 2026 The couple was known for their final act of selflessness aboard the sinking ship. —CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026 The legend behind the festival tells the story of King Mahabali and his selflessness and devotion to the Hindu god Vishnu. —Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026 Betts credited the team’s selflessness, how players sacrificed for one another, for the good of the team. —Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026 There’s far more to love — vulnerability, courage, selflessness — just as there’s far more to the Dead. —Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026 Gray’s selflessness and willingness to play wherever his manager needs him are admirable but the long-term effects of this on his development need to be considered. —Jay Harris, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026 With acts of courage, themes of selflessness, and standing in the gap for others, this movie is a challenging and beautiful watch for the entire family. —Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026 The most agonizing and gripping sections of the book for me are the poet’s raw observations about where selflessness can lead you (as in Kimon’s exploitation by his culture, and younger writers) and how self-interest can be a kind of armor. —Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selflessness
Noun
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His is a work of coming to terms with the odds, surviving them, and doing so with grace, radiance, generosity, and spirit.— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
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He was touched and impressed, assuming that would be the weight of her generosity.— David Folkenflik, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Stay well, everyone, and know that small acts of kindness count.— Helen Dennis, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
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In the South, manners are all about genuine kindness and compassion.— Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Apple became more involved in philanthropy, social responsibility and environmental efforts.— Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
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As a private school, The Primary School is funded differently than public schools throughout the state, primarily relying on donations and philanthropy.— Jason Green, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In a small act of unselfishness, Celebrini then passed the puck to Collin Graf, only to have the Sharks winger send it right back to the still-teenaged wunderkind, who quickly fired the puck into the open net with a defender bearing down on him for his second goal of the game.— Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
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There should be no unselfishness.— Troy Renck, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The company accepted charitable grants, including thirty million dollars from what was then called Open Philanthropy, a hub of the effective-altruism movement whose commitments included supporting the distribution of mosquito nets to the global poor.— Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
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Biblical scholar Bart Ehrman contends that our modern sense of altruism can be traced back to the radical shift in ethical thinking sparked by Jesus' teachings.— Big Think, Big Think, 26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Selflessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/selflessness. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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