self-pity
/ˌself ˈpɪti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌself ˈpɪti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌself-ˈpi-tē/ (ame, mw)
self-pity — noun
1. A tendency to focus on one's own problems and misfortunes, often accompanied by
A tendency to focus on one's own problems and misfortunes, often accompanied by the belief that one has been treated unfairly by life or other people.
After losing his job, Bilal sank into self-pity for nearly a week.
collocation: sink into self-pity
Her therapist told Greta that self-pity only makes it harder to move past painful experiences.
collocation: self-pity + makes it harder to [verb]
The novel's main character is trapped in self-pity, blind to others around her.
Instead of offering sympathy, Lucia's mother told her to stop indulging in self-pity.
A brief moment of self-pity washed over Ryo as his teammates received their awards.
- self-absorption
broader — being so focused on oneself that one ignores others; does not necessarily involve sadness
- self-centeredness
emphasis on selfishness rather than on feeling sorry for oneself
- self-indulgence
focuses on giving oneself pleasure or comfort, not on dwelling on misfortune
- moroseness
a gloomy mood that may or may not involve a sense of unfair treatment
- resilience
the ability to recover quickly from hardship without dwelling on it
- stoicism
enduring hardship without complaining or feeling sorry for oneself
- compassion
focus on the suffering of others rather than oneself
文法句型
wallow in [self-pity]
be trapped in [self-pity]
indulge in [self-pity]
用法筆記
Almost always used as an uncountable noun. Carries a negative or critical tone — calling someone's feelings 'self-pity' implies the person is exaggerating their suffering or avoiding action.