narcissistic personality disorder

noun

: a personality disorder characterized especially by an exaggerated sense of self-importance, persistent need for admiration, lack of empathy for others, excessive pride in achievements, and snobbish, disdainful, or patronizing attitudes

At its most extreme, snobbery can be a symptom of narcissistic personality disorder, a condition marked by grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a preoccupation with power and prestige.

—Adelle Waldman

Those with narcissistic personality disorder exaggerate their own importance, aided by success fantasies.

—David G. Myers

Examples of narcissistic personality disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After her parents suggested therapy, Tessa was diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) in 2023. —Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2023

Sometimes referred to as main character syndrome, this phenomenon is not an actual mental health diagnosis, even though some of the characteristics may mirror narcissistic personality disorder. —Sherri Gordon, Parents, 26 Dec. 2024

Some people have narcissism as a trait, while others have it as a mental health disorder called narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). —Joy Emeh, Health, 9 Sep. 2024

According to the Mayo Clinic, narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition in which people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

narcissistic personality disorder

noun

: a personality disorder characterized especially by an exaggerated sense of self-importance, persistent need for admiration, lack of empathy for others, excessive pride in achievements, and snobbish, disdainful, or patronizing attitudes