self-praise: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary, journalistic. Less common in casual conversation.
Quick answer
What does “self-praise” mean?
The act of praising oneself.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of praising oneself; speaking highly of one's own abilities, achievements, or qualities.
Often carries a negative connotation of boastfulness or excessive pride. Can be used in ethical or philosophical discussions about humility and self-perception.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical in meaning and frequency. The hyphenated form "self-praise" is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Universally negative, suggesting vanity or a lack of self-awareness. Possibly slightly more archaic or proverbial in tone in British English.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in both; slightly more common in written, analytical, or critical texts than in speech.
Grammar
How to Use “self-praise” in a Sentence
[Subject] + verb (engage in, indulge in, avoid) + self-praiseself-praise + [verb] (is, sounds, rings) + adjective (hollow, empty, unbecoming)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-praise” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She has a tendency to praise herself rather too often.
American English
- He spent the meeting praising himself for the project's success.
adverb
British English
- He spoke self-praisingly about his achievements.
American English
- She described her role self-praisingly during the interview.
adjective
British English
- His self-praising monologue was quite off-putting.
American English
- The article had a self-praising tone that readers disliked.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Critiqued in leadership contexts as detrimental to team morale; 'His constant self-praise alienated his colleagues.'
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, and literature to analyse character traits or social norms.
Everyday
Used to criticise someone perceived as boastful: 'I'm tired of his endless self-praise.'
Technical
Not typically a technical term, but may appear in discourse analysis or studies of politeness strategies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-praise”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-praise”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-praise”
- Using it as a verb (*'He self-praises all the time'). The correct verb form is 'to praise oneself'.
- Misspelling as one word ('selfpraise') or two unhyphenated words ('self praise').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, almost without exception. It implies a lack of modesty and is viewed as a social flaw. Neutral or positive descriptions of acknowledging one's own merits would use terms like 'self-acknowledgement' or 'recognising one's strengths'.
'Self-confidence' is an internal feeling of trust in one's abilities, which can be quiet and assured. 'Self-praise' is the external, verbal expression of that belief, often perceived as excessive or boastful.
No. 'Self-praise' is solely a noun. The verbal concept is expressed as 'to praise oneself' or 'to boast'.
Yes. With the prefix 'self-' and a noun, a hyphen is standard in both UK and US English for compounds like self-praise, self-defence, self-service.
The act of praising oneself.
Self-praise is usually formal, literary, journalistic. less common in casual conversation. in register.
Self-praise: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself ˈpreɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛlf ˈpreɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Self-praise is no recommendation.”
- “Blow one's own trumpet (UK) / Toot one's own horn (US)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SELFie where you PRAISE yourself in the caption. That's 'self-praise' – a picture of verbal vanity.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELF-PRAISE IS A MIRROR (one only sees oneself), SELF-PRAISE IS AN UNPLEASANT SOUND (it grates on the ears).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'self-praise' MOST likely to be used critically?