selfless act
Giving without expecting
A selfless act is something done for the benefit of others without concern for personal gain or recognition.
The phrase implies genuine altruism—helping not for reward or reciprocation but because it's right: Donating a kidney to a stranger is a truly selfless act.
The term often appears in praise or aspiration, though cynics question whether any act is purely selfless.
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- good deedBenevolent act
- generosityReadiness to give freely
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
- altruismPrioritizing others' wellbeing
giving · paying it forward · charity · heroism · compassion · noble · volunteer · helping hand · donation · helping · courage · martyr · above and beyond · devotion · humble · mercy · rescue · unselfish
- heroismbravery, valor, hero, courage, heroism
- chivalryknighthood, knights, chivalry, medieval knights, honor
- Rescue Storyhero, savior, rescue, escape, danger
- hero tropeschosen one, superheroes, hero's journey, reluctant hero, antiheroes
- offeringsburnt offering, altar offerings, sin offering, peace offering, oblations
selfless actself-aggrandizement
Inflating one's own status
looking out for number one · power grab · profiteering · opportunism · exploitation
selfless actbetrayal
Breaking of trust
treachery · sin · transgression · misdeed · wrongdoing
self, selfless, selflessly, selflessness, selves, selfish, selfishly, selfishness, acts