Some people believe they DESERVE more opportunities

[realEnglish]

If some people think they DESERVE more opportunities than you, no matter how little they contribute to the society, and no matter what your achievements are, what word or phrase could be used to describe them?
I don't think privileged, condescending, superior, or arrogant are correct.

Would "self-centered" be close to what is correct?

 

[emsr2d2]

The word "entitled" has been growing in use in the last few years to describe such people. If you Google "definition of entitled", you will find a lot of results with example sentences.

 

[Rover_KE]

If some people think they deserve more opportunities than you, no matter how little they contribute to [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] society, and no matter what your achievements are, what word or phrase could be used to describe them?
[Line break for clarity]
I don't think privileged, condescending, superior, or arrogant are correct.

Would "self-centered" be close to what is correct?

The words I've underlined should all be enclosed in quotation marks — just like "self-centered" is.

 

[tedmc]

How about "people who want preferential treatment" or "rent seekers"?

 

[realEnglish]

Thank both of you for helping me!

The word "entitled" has been growing in use in the last few years to describe such people. If you Google "definition of entitled", you will find a lot of results with example sentences.

The definition of entitled from www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com:

entitled

(usually disapproving)

• ​feeling that you have a right to the good things in life without necessarily having to work for them
  • He's so entitled!
  • The college attracts both the entitled children of wealthy parents and a large number of scholarship students.

What if you not only feel that you have a right to the good things in life without necessarily having to work for them but also think others do not have the right to the good things even if you contribute a lot to society?

 

[Tarheel]

Thanks to both of you for helping me!


The definition of entitled from www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com:

entitled

(usually disapproving)

• ​feeling that you have a right to the good things in life without necessarily having to work for them
  • He's so entitled!
  • The college attracts both the entitled children of wealthy parents and a large number of scholarship students.

What if you not only feel that you have a right to the good things in life without necessarily having to work for them but also think others do not have a right to the good things even if they contribute a lot to society?

Do you have something specific in mind? A person?

 

[PeterCW]

How about "people who want preferential treatment" or "rent seekers"?

"Rent-seeking" is a technical term that isn't going to be understood by most people without a degree in economics.

 

[GoesStation]

"Rent-seeking" is a technical term that isn't going to be understood by most people without a degree in economics.

Unless they regularly read The Economist.

 

[realEnglish]

rent-seeking

adjective
(disapproving, economics)

• ​trying to change or control public policy or economic conditions in order to increase your own profits
  • These processes amount to rent-seeking behaviour by multinational corporations.

(from www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com )

No, not rent-seeking or anything alike.

 

[Tarheel]

Say:

or anything like that.

I know you're talking about something other than people feeling entitled, but nothing comes to me right now. Maybe somebody else will think of something.

 

[realEnglish]

Say:

or anything like that.

I know you're talking about something other than people feeling entitled, but nothing comes to me right now. Maybe somebody else will think of something.

Thanks!
Language and culture can't be separated. I might have to create a new word/term. But before that, I prefer an existing English word so that people can find its definition.

 

[Rover_KE]

Language and culture can't be separated.

You might have to start a new thread to debate that statement (in General Members Discussions).

 

[emsr2d2]

I might have to create a new word/term no full stop here but before I do that, I would prefer to use an existing English word so that people can find its definition.

You can create a new one if you want, but don't expect anyone else to understand it or use it. You might prefer to use an existing word for your later context, but as far as I know, there isn't one. We don't have to have a word for everything!