self-knowledge

noun

self-knowl·​edge ˌself-ˈnä-lij How to pronounce self-knowledge (audio)
: knowledge or understanding of one's own capabilities, character, feelings, or motivations : self-understanding

Examples of self-knowledge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Miyazaki’s films tend to follow a similar arc: A child’s life is disrupted, something supernatural beckons, and the young hero navigates a bizarre new world, emerging in the end with a kernel of self-knowledge. Nina Li Coomes, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2024 Hers is a world where logic does not reign, independence is essential and the unconscious is a mechanism for self-knowledge. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024 But Crossing uses delicate brushstrokes to depict the city also as a place where transformative encounters can bring change and greater self-knowledge. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024 Self-awareness and self-knowledge are, therefore, the basis of all leadership. Leon E. Moores, Md, Dsc, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Yet what is cringe but the beginning of self-knowledge? Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024 Continuous health streaming may liberate anxious and idle patients from fear of the unknown, putting them on the path toward self-knowledge and health optimization. Leslie Saxon, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2021 In a video on her YouTube channel, Kempton sits in her Carmel Valley, Calif., home, talking in a stream about her ardent striving for self-knowledge, a striking woman with graying hair and twinkling eyes. Sasha Weiss, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023 The role of self-knowledge connects the simplest forms of humor to the most complex. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-knowledge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-knowledge was in 1537

Dictionary Entries Near self-knowledge

Cite this Entry

“Self-knowledge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-knowledge. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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