self-gratification

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Selin understands these categories as the difference between devoting oneself to the societally condoned goals of making money and having kids versus freely pursuing self-gratification through love, art and adventure.

From New York Times • May 20, 2022

Crucially, these collected lyrics aren’t an exercise in self-gratification; Sondheim is insightful and unsparing about his own mistakes, even the ones that only he is smart enough to see.

From Slate • Nov. 18, 2019

“There’s a lot of self-gratification in helping people. I can’t believe people send us thank-you notes for something we get paid to do.”

From Washington Times • Feb. 6, 2017

“It refers to those aspects of well-being that transcend immediate self-gratification and connect people to something larger,” she said.

From The New Yorker • Jul. 7, 2016

Whenever self-gratification is the law of action, there is pure selfishness, whatever the character or direction of the impulse may be.

From Doctrine of the Will by Mahan, Asa