Definition of: egotism

(ē′gə·tiz′əm, eg′ə-) noun
The habit or practice of thinking and talking much of oneself, or the spirit that leads to this practice; self-exaltation. Synonyms: conceit, egoism, self-assertion, self-conceit, self-confidence, self-consciousness, self-esteem, vanity. Egoism is the giving the “I” undue supremacy in thought; egotism is giving the “I” undue prominence in speech and action. Self-assertion is the claim of what one believes to be his due; self-conceit is an overestimate of one's own powers or deserts. Self-consciousness (as here considered) is the keeping of one's thoughts upon oneself, with the constant anxious question of what others will think. Vanity is an overweening admiration of self, craving equal admiration from others. Self-esteem is more solid and better founded than self-conceit; but is ordinarily a weakness, and never has the worthy sense of self-confidence. Compare ASSURANCE, PRIDE. Antonyms: bashfulness, deference, diffidence, humility, modesty, self-distrust, self-forgetfulness, shyness, unobtrusiveness, unostentatiousness.