Words of Positivity
Browse the A to Z index4,633 ENTRIES

Selflessly

adv.kind, resilientwarm

What it means

With generous concern for others before personal advantage.

Reach for it when describing help or sacrifice given with primary concern for others rather than personal gain

She selflessly gave her place to someone in greater need.

Choose between these

8
  • everyday

    for others

    when plain wording avoids a claim about inner motive

    not when The phrase describes beneficiaries, not selflessness.

  • everyday

    unselfishly

    when not putting oneself first is the plain meaning

    not when Unselfishly can still allow mixed motives.

  • warm

    devotedly

    when loyal sustained service matters

    not when Devotion can be directed toward a cause that benefits the person.

  • warm

    generously

    when ample giving is central

    not when Generosity can bring status or pleasure to the giver.

  • warm

    without seeking credit

    when lack of recognition-seeking is known

    not when Avoid claiming this when motives are not verifiable.

  • professional

    altruistically

    when benefiting others without expected return is precise

    not when Altruistically sounds clinical in personal praise.

  • formal

    benevolently

    when kind intention from a position of power is central

    not when Benevolence can sound paternalistic.

  • formal

    sacrificially

    when accepting real personal cost is central

    not when Sacrifice is stronger and can glorify preventable harm.

Said against

3
  • selfishly
  • greedily
  • opportunistically

It naturally appears in

3
  • serve selflessly

    She continued to serve selflessly while training two successors.

  • act selflessly

    The driver acted selflessly by helping passengers before checking his luggage.

  • give selflessly

    They give selflessly but still protect time for rest.

The word family

2

Where this comes from

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.