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get one's own way (adjective)

English translation: self-centered

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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	egocentric
English translation:	self-centered
Entered by:	Fuad Yahya

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07:04 Feb 19, 2004

English to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Psychology

English term or phrase: get one's own way (adjective)

I am looking for a one-word adjective that describes someone who always wants to get his or her own way and so whatever he or she likes... just like a spoilt br*t.

Denyce Seow KudoZ activity Questions: 1847 (10 open) (50 closed without grading) Answers: 1528 Singapore
Local time: 08:02

self-serving, self-centered

Explanation:
in addition to Alex' suggestions. I don't believe that autocratic fits here unless it describes some of our other bad traits.

Selected response from:

Alaa Zeineldine
Egypt
Local time: 02:02

Grading comment

I'm very impressed with the suggestions and gosh, we have over 60 inputs here. I guess everyone is right in their own way but "self-centered" fits best into my context.

Thanks a zillion, folks!!
p.s. Sorry if I have not provided enough context.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +6

bullheaded, headstrong

Fuad Yahya

5 +5

Egoist

xxxAlex Zelkind

4 +6

selfish

RHELLER

4 +5

self-serving, self-centered

Alaa Zeineldine

3 +4

demanding, self-centred

chica nueva

5 +2

willful

Gerard Michael Burns

4 +3

inconsiderate

Armorel Young

4 +2

stubborn

Paul Weideman

2 +3

hard-headed

Jonathan MacKerron

4 +1

self-opinionated

Textklick

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

Egoist

Explanation:
...

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Note added at 2004-02-19 07:09:26 (GMT)
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Selfish is the adjective

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Note added at 2004-02-19 07:14:21 (GMT)
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Egotistical - another way to say it
\"Egoistic\" is another adjective widely used

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-19 07:23:43 (GMT)
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Voluntaristic - is that the adjective you are looking for?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-19 07:57:14 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think that \"voluntaristic\" is the one you are looking for to go with \"autocratic\". \"Autoristic and voluntaristic\" go hand in hand. In Russia term \"voluntaristic\" was applied to describe Khrushev\' rule.
Voluntarism.

xxxAlex Zelkind
Native speaker of:

Russian

13 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

self-serving, self-centered

Explanation:
in addition to Alex' suggestions. I don't believe that autocratic fits here unless it describes some of our other bad traits.

Alaa Zeineldine
Egypt
Local time: 02:02
Native speaker of:

Arabic,

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

15 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

selfish

Explanation:
the simplest answer
one who does not think of others' needs

self-centered

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Note added at 17 mins (2004-02-19 07:22:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I do not think autocratic fits here - unless this is about a political ruler who only cares about getting his/her way

autocratic. Roget s II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition. 1995.
...political power and control: absolute, absolutistic, arbitrary, autarchic, autarchical, autocratical, despotic, dictatorial, monocratic, totalitarian, tyrannic, tyrannical,...

3) autocrat. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
...1. A ruler having unlimited power; a despot. 2. A person with unlimited power or authority: a corporate autocrat. French autocrate, from Greek autokrats, ruling by...

RHELLER
Local time: 17:02
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Chris Rowson

34 mins

-> thanks Chris :-)

agree

mportal: I think this is what you mean, although another word for 'spoilt' would be pampered - but that is by others

1 hr

-> thanks MP! (IMHO pampered sounds too soft)

agree

TonyTK

3 hrs

-> I know... you need the browniz right? just kidding :-)

neutral

Jörgen Slet: Re: autocrat: a person who behaves in an authoritarian or domineering manner (ancient 1992 electronic RH Websters Dictionary :-) --- Addition --- I think the definition also somewhat suits the question (from a non-native-speaker point of view :-).

5 hrs

-> I posted the autocrat definition - not sure I see your point

agree

Refugio

6 hrs

-> thanks Ruth :-)

agree

Sally van der Graaff

9 hrs

-> thanks Sally!

agree

Asghar Bhatti

12 hrs

-> thanks Asghar:-)

19 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

stubborn

Explanation:
Two lines of thought:

1. Stubborn and its synonyms:

STUBBORN, DOGGED, OBSTINATE, and PERSISTENT imply fixity of purpose or condition and resistance to change. STUBBORN and OBSTINATE both imply resistance to advice, entreaty, remonstrance or force; but STUBBORN implies more of an innate quality.
(Random House)

2. spoiled: I think your own suggestion might serve you. This, of course, implies a greater degree of immaturity and irresponsibility.

Best of luck.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary

Paul Weideman
Local time: 16:02
Native speaker of:

English

46 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

hard-headed

Explanation:
well, almost one word....

Jonathan MacKerron
Local time: 01:02
Native speaker of:

English

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

bullheaded, headstrong

Explanation:
In addition to Jonathan MacKerron's excellent suggestion, "bullheaded" and "headstrong" come to mind.

Bullheaded is defined as "foolishly or irrationally stubborn."

Headstrong is defined as "determined to have one's own way; stubbornly and often recklessly willful"

Both seem to come pretty close to the desired meaning.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-19 11:03:52 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In view of the other adjective you have used, \"autocratic,\" I would suggest \"bullheaded\" as the other adjective.

American Heritage Dictionary

Fuad Yahya
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Arabic,

English
PRO pts in category: 8

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

self-opinionated

Explanation:
Ref: Oxford English Dictionary: "1868 J. H. BLUNT Ref. Ch. Eng. I. 538 The young priest was far too self-opinionated to yield to argument."

HTH :-)

Textklick
Local time: 00:02
Native speaker of:

English

3 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

inconsiderate

Explanation:
Not taking other people's opinions into account

Armorel Young
Local time: 00:02
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 12

7 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

willful

Explanation:
Merriam Webster Dictionary online (see below)
Main Entry: will·ful
Variant(s): or wil·ful /'wil-f&l/
Function: adjective
1 : obstinately and often perversely self-willed

Merriam Webster online thesaurus (See below)
Entry Word: willful
Function: adjective
Text: 1
Synonyms OBSTINATE, headstrong, intractable, mulish, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, self-willed, stiff-necked, wrongheaded
Related Word contumacious, factious
Idioms having the bit in one's teeth, not yielding an inch
Contrasted Words amenable, docile, obedient, tractable
Antonyms biddable

Reference: http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=willful
Reference: http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/thesaurus?book=Thesaurus&va=willf...

Gerard Michael Burns
Paraguay
Local time: 21:02
Native speaker of:

English

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

demanding, self-centred

Explanation:
arrogant, inconsiderate: People with that problem are sometimes described this way. It describes how others judge their behaviour/attitude.

'demanding' and 'self-centred' are other possibilities, depending on the situation.

'pushy,manipulative'describe how people go about getting what they want...

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Note added at 19 hrs 47 mins (2004-02-20 02:52:29 GMT)
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intractable, intransigent

(Heavens, Denyse, have you considered posting the Chinese word in the Chinese/English Kudoz?)

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Note added at 19 hrs 53 mins (2004-02-20 02:57:58 GMT)
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the Old Testament uses \'stiffnecked\' and \'rebellious\'to describe the Israelites when they didn\'t heed (= take any notice) of God\'s instructions....

Definitely more context needed.

chica nueva
Local time: 21:02
Native speaker of:

English

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Changes made by editors

Jan 3, 2006 - Changes made by Fuad Yahya:
Level	Non-PRO => PRO
Jan 3, 2006 - Changes made by Fuad Yahya:
Field	Other => Social Sciences
Field (specific)	(none) => Psychology

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English translation: self-centered

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English translation: self-centered

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