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Selfish vs Greedy - What's the difference?

selfish | greedy | Synonyms |

Greedy is a synonym of selfish.



As adjectives the difference between selfish and greedy

is that selfish is holding one’s self-interest as the standard for decision making while greedy is having greed; consumed by selfish desires.

selfish

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Holding one’s self-interest as the standard for decision making.
  • * 1997 , John Peniel, The Children Of The Law Of One & The Lost Teachings Of Atlantis , chapter 10, page 127
  • “We all have both a selfish separate self, and an Inner Being that is One with the Universal Spirit. In this sense, every human has a sort of ‘split personality’. We are all kind of what you call ‘schitzy’ with these two sides, these two people living within us. And they are in total opposition. The free will dictates which of these two sides will have its way in our life, at every given moment.”
  • Having regard for oneself above others’ well-being.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
  • , chapter=5, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite.

    Usage notes

    * Said of people, motives, desires, acts, etc.

    Synonyms

    * egoistic * egotistic * egotistical * self-centered * greedy

    Antonyms

    * altruistic * philanthropic * selfless * unselfish

    Derived terms

    * selfishly * selfishness

    See also

    * self-serving

    Anagrams

    *

    greedy

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Having greed; consumed by selfish desires.
  • * , chapter=7
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“[…] Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing. Oh, dear, there's so much to tell you, so many warnings to give you, but all that must be postponed for the moment.”}}
  • Prone to overeat.
  • (computing) Tending to match as much text as possible.
  • Synonyms

    * gluttonous * See also

    Derived terms

    * greed (by back-formation) * greediness * greedy-guts

    Anagrams

    * (l)