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 They become withdrawn and introspective and very aware of their body and their mind and not very aware of the external world.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

Cooper’s deeply introspective film is a quiet beauty that understands and has compassion for how creativity and depression so often can be inexorably linked and produce such iconic works. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025

The move places Baumbach’s introspective yet humorous feature in a competitive awards-season field that includes both prestige comedies and musical tentpoles. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025

The second half of the album finds Snider feeling heavily introspective. —Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025

Edgerton’s lead performance is spectacular but quiet and introspective. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for introspective

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