Meaning

The denial or invalidation of one's own needs, interests, etc. for the sake of another's; the setting aside of self-interest..

Definitions by Sense

1. The denial or invalidation of one's own needs, interests, etc. for the sake of another's; the setting aside of self-interest.
2. (countable) An act of self-denial.

Example Sentences

[Self commendation] should bee accompanied with Self-abnegation, or a renouncing of all Self-conceit, Self-sufficiency, Self seeking, or Self worthiness; to prick the bladder of pride in us.

You understand, of course, that it is only by serving and self-abnegation that we advance in the higher world."

She must no longer allow herself to hope for anything for herself. The rest of her life must be spent in self-abnegation: she must seek for no sympathy, must ask for no grace in love, no grace and harmony in living. Henceforward, as far as her own desires went, she was dead.

The problem was that the Ruler never let anyone know what was expected of him to retain his place of honor. Even humility and self-abnegation, however abject, were not enough to prevent one’s downfall.

[King Charles] lacks, too, that aura of self-abnegation, of having surrendered himself to duty.

Certain business titans have made Mar-A-Lago a scene of such flagrant self-abnegation, ring-kissing, and genuflection that it would embarrass a medieval Pope.

[…] self-abnegations often repeated imply on the part of the actor a tacit ascription of relative selfishness to others who profit by the self-abnegations.

There was something monstrous about his self-abnegations. Perhaps he denied himself the things for which he did not care. He wanted to seem nobler than any one else.

Word Forms

• self-abnegations

Synonyms for self-abnegation

Related Words

When Should You Use Self-abnegation?

Use self-abnegation when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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