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
  • But Vicki’s insufferable attitude is nothing compared to Lisa’s selfishness by the end of the episode.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Timidity dissolves into might, selfishness gives place to broad-reaching love, incompetence is replaced with obedience to God’s perfect direction.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of selfishness
Noun
  • This looks snug and has a flushing toilet, a vanity sink, a shower, and a washer/dryer.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But his work has likely been on your neck, your vanity, your partner or your ex.
    — Arabelle Sicardi, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of vanity
Noun
  • It has been defined in slightly different ways over the years, but some of the traits commonly associated with psychopathy include pathological lying, extreme narcissism, shallow affect, impulsivity and lack of empathy and remorse.
    — David DeMatteo, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Maybe that’s the point — the film seeks to interrogate Mark’s narcissism — but every interaction feels like it’s been flattened into a series of predictable accusations instead of something that might provoke surprise or reflection.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of narcissism
Noun
  • Let’s set your ego at the door and figure out what’s going on with just some of the techniques that happened today.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Trump’s presidency seems rooted in a policy du jour mindset which responds first and foremost to pleasuring his insatiable ego.
    — Kevin Igoe, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of ego
Noun
  • Love contains the seeds of its own destruction—the cruelty and self-absorption that turns the afflicted against one another, and themselves.
    — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The action cuts back and forth from Anna and Alice in Rome, the latter still deeply resentful and convinced the whole elaborate story is just some morbid fantasy hatched out of her mother’s self-absorption.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 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 1 Nov. 2026.

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