Selflessness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈsel-fləs/ self·less

Meaning & Definition of Selflessness

Selflessness (adjective)

  1. having no concern for self, unselfish

Selflessness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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."

    similar: altruism, philanthropy, unselfishness, bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship, civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, rapprochement, charity, generosity, affinity, communion, empathy, kindness, sympathy, tolerance, amity, benevolence, brotherhood, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, kindliness, neighborliness, collaboration, cooperation, coordination, teamwork, partnership, mutualism, reciprocity, symbiosis, synergism, synergy, cooperativeness, kinship, oneness, solidarity, togetherness, unity
    opposite: disfavor, intolerance, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor, belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness, ill will, malevolence, venom

Related Entry: Selfless (adjective)

Selfless is a different word from Selflessness. The synonyms below are for selfless, not for selflessness.

  1. having or showing great concern for other people and little or no concern for yourself

    "a selfless act"

    "selfless dedication to helping the most in need"

    similar: altruistic, brotherly, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, humanitarian, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, noble, openhearted, philanthropic, unselfish, unsparing, beneficent, benevolent, benignant, compassionate, good-hearted, humane, kind, kindhearted, kindly, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, warmhearted, attentive, considerate, solicitous, thoughtful, affable, amicable, benign, companionable, comradely, cordial, friendly, genial, gentle, good, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, mild, neighborly, nice, pleasant, sweet, warm, clement, forbearing, forgiving, lenient, merciful, soft, patient, pitying, tolerant, understanding, anticruelty, cruelty-free
    opposite: ironhearted, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, stonyhearted, inconsiderate, insensitive, thoughtless, uncaring, unthinking, grim, hard-boiled, harsh, heavy-handed, severe, stern, tough, unsentimental, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, virulent, antihumanitarian, uncharitable, atrocious, barbaric, barbarous, bestial, brutal, brute, brutish, callous, cold-blooded, cruel, fiendish, hard-hearted, heartless, inhuman, inhumane, insensate, sadistic, savage, truculent, uncompassionate, unfeeling, unkind, unkindly, unsympathetic, vicious, wanton

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Selflessness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Selflessness:

altruism, philanthropy, unselfishness, bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship, civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, rapprochement, charity, generosity, affinity, communion, empathy, kindness, sympathy, tolerance, amity, benevolence, brotherhood, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, kindliness, neighborliness, collaboration, cooperation, coordination

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Selflessness

Words with the opposite meaning of Selflessness:

disfavor, intolerance, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor, belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness, ill will, malevolence, venom

Word Forms of Selflessness

Derived words: selflessly (adverb), selflessness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Selflessness

First known use: 1651

Frequently Asked Questions about Selflessness

What does "Selflessness" mean?

"Selflessness" means having no concern for self, unselfish. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: having no concern for self, unselfish.

What is another word for "Selflessness"?

Other words for "Selflessness" include altruism, philanthropy, unselfishness, bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community and companionship. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Selflessness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Selflessness"?

There are 53 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Selflessness". Common alternatives include altruism, philanthropy, unselfishness, bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company and comradeship.

What is the opposite of "Selflessness"?

Antonyms of "Selflessness" include disfavor, intolerance, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate and hatred.

How do you use "Selflessness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Selflessness" in a sentence: "She was widely admired for her selflessness and dedication to the cause.".

Is "Selflessness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Selflessness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Selflessness"?

"Selflessness" is pronounced /ˈsel-fləs/ and divided into syllables as self·less.

What is the origin of the word "Selflessness"?

First known use: 1651.