navel-gazing

noun

navel-gaz·​ing ˈnā-vəl-ˈgā-ziŋ 

: useless or excessive self-contemplation

Synonyms

• egocentricity
• egocentrism
• egoism
• egomania
• egotism
• narcissism
• self-absorption
• self-centeredness
• self-concern
• self-interest
• self-involvement
• self-preoccupation
• self-regard
• selfishness
• selfness

Examples of navel-gazing in a Sentence

a singer-songwriter whose compositions are too often exercises in self-important navel-gazing

Recent Examples on the Web

The Cavs are not, to borrow a phrase from former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, navel-gazing. —Joe Vardon, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

Beyond the lifeboat of major film festivals, which still assist a handful of buzzy international and independent films in their treacherous journey to release, such entities as the self-congratulatory, navel-gazing Oscars have seemingly abandoned the inclusion of riskier, daring films. —Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 25 Dec. 2024

The results of this year’s elections could result in a prolonged period of French and German navel-gazing. —Matthias Matthijs, Foreign Affairs, 11 June 2024

Ortberg urged staff to focus on beating its French planemaker competitor Airbus instead of navel-gazing at its own issues. —Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for navel-gazing

• overgrazing
• paraphrasing
• amazing
• appraising
• rephrasing
• blazing
• brazing
• crazing
• gazing
• glazing
• grazing
• hazing

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