na-adjective
selfish; self-indulgent; arbitrary
Describes acting solely according to one's own desires or whims, without regard for others or rules. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
彼はほしいままに振る舞い、周囲の迷惑を考えなかった。
He behaved selfishly, without considering the trouble he caused others.
権力をほしいままにする独裁者。
A dictator who wields power arbitrarily.
Rare kanji variant; 肆 is an uncommon character.
わがまま is the common, everyday word for 'selfish' or 'willful'. ほしいまま is more literary and emphasizes acting on one's desires without restraint, often with a nuance of arbitrariness or self-indulgence.
自分勝手 is a common word for 'selfish' or 'self-centered', focusing on doing things one's own way without considering others. ほしいまま is more formal and less conversational.
The exact derivation is uncertain. It may be related to the classical adjective ほし (desired) and the suffix まま (as it is), suggesting 'as one desires'.