A narcissist is someone who is excessively focused on themselves and believes they are more important, talented, or special than others see them to be. The word comes from an ancient Greek myth about a young man named Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water.

While everyone feels proud of their accomplishments sometimes, a narcissist takes this much further. They constantly seek admiration and attention, struggle to care about other people's feelings, and react badly to criticism. If a narcissist gets a B on a test, they might blame the teacher for unfair grading rather than accepting they could have studied more. When a friend shares good news, a narcissist may turn the conversation back to themselves.

Narcissistic describes this kind of behavior. Someone might make a narcissistic comment by bragging endlessly about themselves while showing no interest in others. Groups sometimes develop narcissistic traits too, when members believe their club or team is superior to everyone else without good reason.

The related word narcissism describes this pattern of self-centered thinking and behavior. Some narcissism is normal in young children, who naturally see themselves as the center of the world. But as people mature, they usually learn to balance self-confidence with genuine interest in others. A narcissist doesn't make this shift.