special snowflake syndrome

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English

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Etymology

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From the idea that every snowflake has a unique structure. Compare snowflake (someone who believes they are as unique and special as a snowflake).

Noun

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special snowflake syndrome (uncountable)

  1. (derogatory) The conviction that one (or often one's child) is, in some way, special and should therefore be treated differently from others.
    • 2014, Douglas O. Linder, Nancy Levit, The Good Lawyer: Seeking Quality in the Practice of Law, page 181:
      Although we all like to think we are unique and experience the world in our own way—we all have a touch of the Special Snowflake Syndrome—people are in fact more alike than different.
    • 2015, Jacob D. Myers, Making Love with Scripture:
      America is plagued by the disease of Special Snowflake Syndrome. This is a contracted condition that afflicts the ego; it's where we believe ourselves to be utterly unique and better than everyone else.
    • 2015, Mattew Henry, “Special Snowflake Syndrome is ruining the progressive LGBTQ movement”, in alt.fan.rush-limbaugh (Usenet):
      Ah, the Tumblrfication of queer spaces... Maybe we'll finally get the courage to start speaking up against and calling this out without fear of Internet lynch mobs...