introspective

adjective

in·​tro·​spec·​tive ˌin-trə-ˈspek-tiv 

: characterized by examination of one's own thoughts and feelings : thoughtfully reflective : employing, marked by, or tending to introspection

As a student, he was very quiet and introspective.

… encouraging a balance between the fast, upbeat songs and a band's more introspective side.

—David T. Lindsay

There's an interesting literature that suggests that when people are sad, they tend to pay attention to themselves. They become withdrawn and introspective and very aware of their body and their mind and not very aware of the external world.

—Peter Salovey

introspectively adverb

This whole episode set me thinking introspectively, and led me gradually but imperatively to self-analysis—not of powers, but of motives.

—Bram Stoker

introspectiveness noun

Introversion is too often considered a sign of weakness when it should instead be an indication of strength, and associated with thoughtfulness, introspectiveness and independence.

—Jasmine Tatah

Examples of introspective in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As his debut album approaches its one-year anniversary, Mason’s been feeling introspective about his career and the project. — Naomi Jeffries, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

Instead, Abrams spends much of Daughter from Hell more introspective than ever. — Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

That seems to have helped inspire the introspective, memoiristic aspects of this album. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026

Simón’s new film — introspective, often visually breath-stopping, and lensed with glittering coastal beauty by cinematographer Hélène Louvart — premiered at Cannes 2025 in competition, went on to play at myriad festivals, and is only now opening in the United States from Janus Films. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for introspective

• imperfective
• ineffective
• intellective
• irrespective
• nondirective
• nonselective
• retrospective
• unreflective
• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective