self-love
5 antonyms and opposites of self-love, grouped by meaning.
Noun — Regard for your own wellbeing and worth, shown in treating yourself with the same care, honesty and forgiveness you would give someone you love.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Regard for your own wellbeing and worth, shown in treating yourself with the same care, honesty and forgiveness you would give someone you love.
“Learning to say no was the beginning of self-love for her.”
Opposites
2. noun formal, older use
Excessive concern with yourself; vanity or conceit.
“His memoirs are an exercise in undisguised self-love.”
Opposites
3. noun euphemistic
Masturbation.
“The chapter on self-love is the frankest in the book.”
Antonyms
How to use self-love
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The positive sense now dominates and is standard in wellbeing writing; the older vanity sense survives mainly in literary and formal prose.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between self-love and narcissism?
Self-love means valuing yourself in a way that leaves room for other people, and it can coexist with admitting fault. Narcissism needs external admiration, treats other people as suppliers of it, and collapses under criticism.
What is the difference between self-love and self-care?
Self-love is the underlying attitude; self-care is what it looks like in practice. Self-care can be done mechanically without any of the attitude behind it, which is why routines alone often feel hollow.
Is self-love selfish?
No. Selfishness means putting your interests above other people's; self-love means not putting yours permanently last. The two are frequently confused by people raised to treat self-denial as a virtue.