self-preservation
noun
self-pres·er·va·tion
ˌself-ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən 
1
: preservation of oneself from destruction or harm
2
: a natural or instinctive tendency to act so as to preserve one's own existence
Examples of self-preservation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For Cook, the decision to end new music releases on PC was almost an act of self-preservation.
—
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 May 2024
Instead of being endowed with a natural instinct for self-preservation, though, a telescope’s routines for entering safe mode are written into their code by the engineers who design them.
—Briley Lewis, Popular Science, 9 May 2024
Darling excelled in playing characters who were big dreamers—and whose retreat into fantasy was, like her own, a form of self-preservation.
—Mayukh Sen, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2024
People, in my view, reinforce their personal hypocrisy out of self-preservation.
—Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
Sometimes not speaking out can be an act of self-preservation.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Instead, for most of their predators, spiders are a safe snack — a tame and tasty treat — rather than a threat, forcing spiders to follow some pretty strange strategies for self-preservation.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
On April 8, the solar eclipse in the same part of your chart presents you with choices or opportunities to increase your cash flow, conserve your resources in the name of self-preservation, or accumulate more equipment to put in your travel bag.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2024
The boy in the story has developed some crafty means of self-preservation.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 May 2024
Instead of being endowed with a natural instinct for self-preservation, though, a telescope’s routines for entering safe mode are written into their code by the engineers who design them.
—Briley Lewis, Popular Science, 9 May 2024
Darling excelled in playing characters who were big dreamers—and whose retreat into fantasy was, like her own, a form of self-preservation.
—Mayukh Sen, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2024
People, in my view, reinforce their personal hypocrisy out of self-preservation.
—Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
Sometimes not speaking out can be an act of self-preservation.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Instead, for most of their predators, spiders are a safe snack — a tame and tasty treat — rather than a threat, forcing spiders to follow some pretty strange strategies for self-preservation.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
On April 8, the solar eclipse in the same part of your chart presents you with choices or opportunities to increase your cash flow, conserve your resources in the name of self-preservation, or accumulate more equipment to put in your travel bag.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2024
The boy in the story has developed some crafty means of self-preservation.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-preservation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near self-preservation
Cite this Entry
“Self-preservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-preservation. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
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