self-interested
Focused on gain
Self-interested describes someone motivated primarily by personal benefit rather than concern for others.
The term is neutral to mildly negative—economists assume self-interested behavior as rational, while ethicists may critique it: a self-interested decision to take the promotion despite the team's needs.
Unlike selfish, self-interested doesn't necessarily imply harming others, just prioritizing oneself.
Prioritizing one's own interests
- egocentricExcessively focused on oneself
- opportunisticExploiting circumstances for gain
- individualisticFavoring personal autonomy
- me-firstPrioritizing personal advantage
uncharitable · inconsiderate · uncaring · thoughtless · inward-looking · solipsistic · insular · narrow
Excessively wanting more
- materialisticPrioritizing physical wealth
- avariciousExcessively desirous of wealth
- covetousEagerly wanting others' possessions
- graspingGreedy for wealth
mercenary · money-grubbing · hoarding · gold-digging · rapacious · grabby · possessive · accumulating
Deliberately planned for advantage
- shrewdPractically clever, perceptive
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
exploitative · Machiavellian · conniving · crafty · wily · plotting · maneuvering · angling
Excessively self-centered
- vainExcessively proud or futile
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
- grandiosePretentiously impressive in scale
- entitledHaving rightful claim
arrogant · smug · boastful · haughty · pompous · immodest · preening · swaggering
Intensely determined to achieve
- motivatedSpurred to action
- careeristAdvancement-obsessed professional
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
status-seeking · power-hungry · competitive · goal-oriented · success-driven · hungry · aspirational · pushy
Governed by logic
- utilitarianPrioritizing function over beauty
- expedientUseful if not ideal
- realisticTrue to life
- practicalSuited for real use
hardheaded · sensible · clear-eyed · worldly · prudent · level-headed · unsentimental · unidealistic
egoistic
Prioritizing one's own interests
- egocentricExcessively focused on oneself
- opportunisticExploiting circumstances for gain
- individualisticFavoring personal autonomy
me-first · uncharitable · inconsiderate · uncaring · thoughtless · inward-looking · solipsistic · insular · narrow
greedy
Excessively wanting more
- materialisticPrioritizing physical wealth
- avariciousExcessively desirous of wealth
- covetousEagerly wanting others' possessions
grasping · mercenary · money-grubbing · hoarding · gold-digging · rapacious · grabby · possessive · accumulating
strategic
Deliberately planned for advantage
manipulative · exploitative · Machiavellian · conniving · crafty · wily · plotting · maneuvering · angling · transactional
egotistical
Excessively self-centered
- vainExcessively proud or futile
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
- grandiosePretentiously impressive in scale
entitled · arrogant · smug · boastful · haughty · pompous · immodest · preening · swaggering · hubris
driven
Intensely determined to achieve
- motivatedSpurred to action
- careeristAdvancement-obsessed professional
- climbingAscending by physical effort
striving · status-seeking · power-hungry · competitive · goal-oriented · success-driven · hungry · aspirational · pushy · ladder-climbing
rational
Governed by logic
- utilitarianPrioritizing function over beauty
- expedientUseful if not ideal
- realisticTrue to life
practical · hardheaded · sensible · clear-eyed · worldly · prudent · level-headed · unsentimental · unidealistic · matter-of-fact
self-interestedaltruistic
Concerned for others' welfare
selfless · self-sacrificing · unselfish · generous · charitable
self-interestedprincipled
Having strong moral beliefs
virtuous · noble · high-minded · duty-bound · idealistic
self, interest, selfish, interested, interesting, unselfish, selfishness, selflessness, unselfishness