narcissist

1 of 2

noun

nar·​cis·​sist ˈnär-sə-sist 

plural narcissists

: an individual showing symptoms of or affected by narcissism: such as

a

: an extremely self-centered person who has an exaggerated sense of self-importance

… 48.7 per cent of the network share, tuned in … to watch Dame Edna, the supremo of narcissists, treat the celebrity guests on her TV talk show like audiovisual aids.

—John Lahr

Humblebragging makes you sound like a narcissist who is also being deceptive.

—Elise Craig

also : a person affected with narcissistic personality disorder

But unlike the garden-variety snob, narcissists have impaired relationships because they're unable to enter anyone else's world.

—Adelle Waldman

… since the narcissist is so convinced of his high station (most are men), he automatically expects that others will recognize his superior qualities and will tell him so.

—Charles Zanor

b

: a person who is overly concerned with his or her physical appearance

O.K., I'm like most baby boomers, a narcissist. In pursuit of the perfect body …

—Cathy Booth

narcissist

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characterized by narcissism : narcissistic

narcissist behavior

a narcissist personality

Synonyms

Noun

• ego-tripper
• egocentric
• egoist
• egomaniac
• egotist

Examples of narcissist in a Sentence

Noun

with the rise of TV reality shows, attention-craving narcissists had a public forum for their self-infatuation

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The thing is, loving a narcissist is like kissing a rattlesnake. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

Tasha describes Stewart Rhodes very much as a megalomaniac, a narcissist. —Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Bonnie is a gorgeous, unhinged narcissist, Rosa has a sharp mind and a killer sense of curiosity, Eve is… also a gorgeous, unhinged narcissist? —Erin Qualey, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2024

Being able to recognize administrative narcissist tendencies is a necessary step in fostering healthier and psychologically safe work environments. —Jason Walker, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

narciss(ism) + -ist entry 1

Adjective

narciss(ism) + -ist entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1917, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1934, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

narcissist

noun

nar·​cis·​sist -səst 

: an individual showing symptoms of or affected by narcissism or narcissistic personality disorder