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 They become withdrawn and introspective and very aware of their body and their mind and not very aware of the external world.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

Fairbanks, who signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Marlins this offseason, didn’t want to get too introspective on the feat postgame but acknowledged the accomplishment is a special one. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 June 2026

According to its creators, the film serves as an ode to art, connection and the human experience, balancing the comedic sensibilities of silent films with a more introspective meditation on time, creativity and loss. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 19 June 2026

As the narrator of the first two seasons of Interview With the Vampire, Louis was soft-spoken, introspective, and riddled with guilt when recounting the damage from his centuries-long relationship with Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid). — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 June 2026

Azul, a loyal compadre, and Zachariah, an introspective cowboy that just got out of prison. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 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