self-love

noun

: love of self: such as
a
: an appreciation of one's own worth or virtue
Self-love begins when we observe our actions and words with compassion as if we were our own best friend.Sara M Bosworth
Just as you'd think, it's love—particular, self-love—that makes the world go around.Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Often we are reluctant to promote self-love mostly because we confuse it with selfishness. Since we are humans, we ought to have a healthy love for ourselves; it is from this fount that love flows out to others.Mason Olds
b
: proper regard for and attention to one's own happiness or well-being
Nurturing your body seems simple, but for me it feels like an extreme act of self-love.Danielle d'Entremont
Lisa Concepcion, a certified professional love life coach and founder of LoveQuest Coaching, says that journaling is an excellent way to practice self-love.SheKnows
c
: inflated love of or pride in oneself : narcissism, conceit
… individuals ruled by self-love and selfishness …John Saillant
"Then from myself pray understand that I will say nothing to flatter your self-love."Anthony Trollope
… there was the self-love of those conceited blockheads who … were convinced that they themselves were superior to anything the age could produce.John Clive
self-loving adjective

Examples of self-love in a Sentence

nurtured a self-love that was far greater than any affection she ever felt for another person
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Your objective is to gain respect and master the art of self-love and giving back. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025 Treat yourself to some self-love with their moisture-wicking undies for workouts or their signature lace for something special for everyday. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025 For over three decades, Carol’s Daughter has been at the forefront of the natural hair movement—championing self-love and the beauty of our textures with every campaign and product rollout. Larry Stansbury, Essence, 4 Mar. 2025 On the agenda: consciousness raising, problem sharing, political action and self-love prompts. Jesse Green, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-love

Word History

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-love was in 1539

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Cite this Entry

“Self-love.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-love. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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