entitlement
Expecting special treatment
Entitlement is a right to something—benefits, privileges, or treatment.
Government entitlements are programs like Social Security or Medicare that qualifying citizens receive by law.
The word often carries negative connotations: someone with a sense of entitlement expects special treatment without earning it.
The entitlement of that generation is astounding.
The adjective entitled works the same way: an entitled person believes they deserve more than others.
Requiring great effort
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
- presumptuousOverstepping appropriate boundaries
- self-importantExaggerating one's own significance
- arrogantExcessively high self-regard
spoiled · narcissistic · expectant · owed · deserving · superior · ungrateful · bratty
Statement of ownership or truth
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- ownershipLegal right of possession
- deedWritten property conveyance
- legalPermitted by statute
lawful · warrant · charter · franchise · tenure · freehold · proprietary · benefit
Rule by hereditary elite
- eliteSuperior select group
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- wealthAbundance of valuable resources
- advantageFavorable position or circumstance
nepotism · exclusivity · prestige · affluence · favoritism · disparity · birthright · access
Excessive admiration of oneself
- grandiosityExaggerated sense of importance
- egoOne's self-image
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
victim mentality · defensiveness · rationalization · self-centeredness · boundary violation · interpersonal · therapy · cognitive distortion
Granted right to act
- eligibilityState of meeting criteria
- qualificationRequired skill or condition
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- licensureOfficial permission to practice
clearance · approval · sanction · validation · verification · enrollment · registration · access rights
demanding
Requiring great effort
- imperiousArrogantly authoritative
- presumptuousOverstepping appropriate boundaries
- self-importantExaggerating one's own significance
arrogant · spoiled · narcissistic · expectant · owed · deserving · superior · ungrateful · bratty · petulant
claim
Statement of ownership or truth
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- ownershipLegal right of possession
- deedWritten property conveyance
legal · lawful · warrant · charter · franchise · tenure · freehold · proprietary · benefit · allowance
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
- eliteSuperior select group
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- wealthAbundance of valuable resources
advantage · nepotism · exclusivity · prestige · affluence · favoritism · disparity · birthright · access · luxury
narcissism
Excessive admiration of oneself
- grandiosityExaggerated sense of importance
- egoOne's self-image
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
victim mentality · grievance · defensiveness · rationalization · self-centeredness · boundary violation · interpersonal · therapy · cognitive distortion · personality trait
permission
Granted right to act
- eligibilityState of meeting criteria
- qualificationRequired skill or condition
- certificationAttestation of qualification
licensure · clearance · approval · sanction · validation · verification · enrollment · registration · access rights · credentials
- selfishnessselfishness, greed, egoism, narcissism, self-centeredness
- economic policymonetary policy, tax policy, fiscal discipline, fiscal stimulus, fiscal restraint
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- claimsinsurance claim, legal claim, false claim, counterclaim, disputed claim
- leaveleave, annual leave, sick leave, leave of absence, paid leave
- old-fashioned complaintskids these days, back in my day, no respect, work ethic, moral decay
entitlementhumility
Freedom from arrogance
modesty · self-effacement · meekness · unpretentiousness · deference
entitlementprohibition
Authoritative legal ban
restriction · ban · denial · disqualification · refusal
entitlementgratitude
Thankfulness for kindness received
thankfulness · appreciation · gratefulness · indebtedness · appreciativeness
- vacation entitlementPermitted absence from employment
- entitlement programsGuaranteed government benefit systems
- legal entitlementsClaims enforceable by law