navel-gazing

noun

ˈnā-vəl-ˈgā-ziŋ How to pronounce navel-gazing (audio)
Definition of navel-gazingnext
as in selfness
excessive interest in oneself a singer-songwriter whose compositions are too often exercises in self-important navel-gazing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of navel-gazing Now The human consciousness question is not just philosophical navel-gazing. — Barry Libert, Forbes.com, 17 Mar. 2026 Equal to Tesfaye’s navel-gazing, Shults uses every trick in the music-video playbook to conjure a vivid, ultra-saturated but not quite realistic universe where the Weeknd is a brightly burning sun everyone revolves around. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 15 May 2025 Van Nistelrooy’s first three games brought a defeat, a victory and a draw; his fourth, on December 14, was a visit to Newcastle, who were navel-gazing after a damaging 4-2 defeat at Brentford. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 That deserves far more digital ink to be spilled than the usual navel-gazing about how iPhones are boring. — Steven Aquino, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for navel-gazing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for navel-gazing
  1. selfishness
  2. vanity
  3. narcissism
  4. ego
  5. self-absorption
  6. self-involvement
Noun
  • Cook argues this creates an unintentional selfishness, in which your anxious thoughts distract you from noticing what’s actually going on with the people around you.
    — Hannah Harper, HEALTH, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Sieler’s selfishness, in this sense his ability to get sacks himself, might be best for the team.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of selfishness
Noun
  • What begins with the seeds of a vanity project organically blossoms into something that encompasses the many people Ryan’s life touches.
    — Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Using information from witnesses and footage from Flock cameras, investigators identified the suspect vehicle as a gray Ford F-150 pickup truck with a California vanity license plate, Johnson said.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of vanity
Noun
  • Her words are not of gratitude but resentment, bile and narcissism.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Numerous renowned and highly respected psychiatrists have provided evidence that the president does show signs of dementia, in conjunction with unmistakable traits consistent with malignant narcissism and antisocial personality disorder.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of narcissism
Noun
  • The fact that both quarterbacks checked their ego at the door has impressed North Stars coach Rob Pomazak.
    — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Sometimes, even when the prosecutor involved almost certainly knows something other than justice is in the works, there is a momentum of ego and bureaucracy that is hard to reverse.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of ego
Noun
  • Simon is often his own worst enemy, letting his self-absorption and professional hang-ups derail him.
    — Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Over the past half century, the city’s culture has descended into one of entitlement, complacency and self-absorption.
    — Michael Bernick, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of self-absorption
Noun
  • Natalie’s anxieties about her sexuality and frustration with her parents’ self-involvement.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 5 June 2026
  • By widening the lens, Clark is able to redirect the book’s gaze from the mother toward a quizzical, sometimes critical, but not unaffectionate portrait of two generations of political activism, with the attendant self-involvement and domestic negligence.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Definition of self-involvement

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navel
navel-gazing
navels
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Cite this Entry

“Navel-gazing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/navel-gazing. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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