soul-searching
noun
soul-search·ing
ˈsōl-ˌsər-chiŋ 
: examination of one's conscience especially with regard to motives and values
Examples of soul-searching in a Sentence
after much soul-searching, they both realized that their marriage was essentially over
Recent Examples on the Web
The scale of the Republican Party's triumph in 2024—taking the White House, flipping the Senate and maintaining control of the House—has sparked soul-searching within the Democratic Party over what went wrong, how to rebuild, and party leadership and direction.
—
Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
The Democratic soul-searching will continue in the midterm primaries for House and Senate seats, and into the 2028 presidential primary, as the party looks for new leaders who can win.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Maybe existential soul-searching is too much of a luxury for a generation that will likely have to fight harder than any other still living to survive.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
As for you … Superlatives Quick Snaps 🐯 Clemson’s bye week means time for some soul-searching at 3-4.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
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Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
The Democratic soul-searching will continue in the midterm primaries for House and Senate seats, and into the 2028 presidential primary, as the party looks for new leaders who can win.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Maybe existential soul-searching is too much of a luxury for a generation that will likely have to fight harder than any other still living to survive.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
As for you … Superlatives Quick Snaps 🐯 Clemson’s bye week means time for some soul-searching at 3-4.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soul-searching
Cite this Entry
“Soul-searching.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soul-searching. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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