power seeking
Hungry for dominance
Power seeking describes the drive to gain influence, control, or authority over others or situations.
The term often carries negative connotations, suggesting ambition that prioritizes dominance over other values: His power-seeking behavior alienated potential allies.
In psychology and political science, power seeking is studied as a fundamental human motivation.
The compound appears as both noun and adjective: a power-seeking executive, naked power seeking.
- ambitiousStrongly desiring achievement
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- corporate ladderOrganizational rank structure
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
control · iron fist · throne · king of the hill · manipulation · influence · cunning · scheming · ladder · grasping · hunger · status · authority · conquest · hostile takeover · ego · calculating · opportunist
- AI safetymisalignment, existential risk, superintelligence, stop button, self-preservation
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- seekingsearch, hunt, quest, pursuit, inquiry
- unconscious drivesrepressed desires, hidden desires, libido, instincts, survival instinct
- psychopathypsychopathy, sociopathy, lack of empathy, superficial charm, pathological lying
power seekinghumility
Freedom from arrogance
submissiveness · meekness · unambitious · self-effacement · modesty
power seekingabdication
Formal surrender of power
self-abnegation · yielding · subservience · stepping down · withdrawal
power seekingselflessness
Prioritizing others over oneself
altruism · servant leadership · self-sacrifice · egolessness · service-oriented
power, seeking, powers, powered, powerful, powerfully, powerless, powerlessness, empower