self-analysis

noun

self-anal·​y·​sis ˌself-ə-ˈna-lə-səs How to pronounce self-analysis (audio)
: a systematic attempt by an individual to understand his or her own personality without the aid of another person

Examples of self-analysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Songs From the Hole is an autobiography told in song, a series of deeply personal music videos that double as journal entries, confessions and self-analysis. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 One of the more illuminating moments in the book, in fact, comes when Herzog most explicitly rejects the value of self-analysis. Mark O’Connell, The New York Review of Books, 24 Nov. 2022 On the professional side of things, Reiner is at his best leading his subject through the early stages of his career, interspersing Brooks’ memories and self-analysis with a variety of footage, including clips from talk shows on which the young standup honed his prodigious craft. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 But then Kubrick himself always resisted too much self-analysis. Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2023 But none of his self-analysis is, for my purposes, exciting. Jason Kehe, WIRED, 23 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-analysis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-analysis was in 1821

Dictionary Entries Near self-analysis

Cite this Entry

“Self-analysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-analysis. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

self-analysis

noun
self-anal·​y·​sis -ə-ˈnal-ə-səs How to pronounce self-analysis (audio)
plural self-analyses -ˌsēz How to pronounce self-analysis (audio)
: a systematic attempt by an individual to understand his or her own personality without the aid of another person
self-analytical adjective
also self-analytic

More from Merriam-Webster on self-analysis

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