self-reflection

noun

self-re·​flec·​tion ˌself-ri-ˈflek-shən How to pronounce self-reflection (audio)
Synonyms of self-reflectionnext

Examples of self-reflection in a Sentence

after some self-reflection I realized that I hadn't been honest with my partner
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Everyone experiences moments of existential despair, when one bad day or cataclysmic event sends you into a headspace that’s some combination of panic and self-reflection. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 3 May 2026 In the meantime, amid the music, classes, and self-reflection, Bistline is building herself back one step at a time. Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 3 May 2026 Dumbfounded, duped and left for dead by an opponent that looked unserious for most of the NBA season, their six-month period of self-reflection began in the same hallway where their rivals celebrated. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 May 2026 How this truly affects you will be based on your sign and birth chart, but this is typically a period of introversion and self-reflection. Ayrika L Whitney, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-reflection

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-reflection was in 1644

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-reflection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-reflection. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster