self-awareness

noun

Definition of self-awarenessnext
as in self-consciousness
knowledge and awareness of your own personality or character Her self-awareness was unusual in such a young child.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of self-awareness Ask the question, take the pause, and let honest self-awareness guide the next conversation. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 Camp Rock 3 echoes that first film by introducing wide-eyed campers on paths to self-discovery and self-awareness through music. — Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 12 Aug. 2026 One plays on the name of the crew’s hangout, Hamburger Hamlet, drawing Murphy-ish parallels between the characters and Shakespeare’s tragic personages that are so overwrought, they can’t be salvaged by self-awareness. — Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 For all the movie’s self-awareness, it’s filled with tenderness and humor. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-awareness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-awareness
  1. self-consciousness
  2. self-recognition
  3. self-analysis
  4. introspection
  5. self-reflection
  6. self-examination
  7. self-observation
  8. soul-searching
Noun
  • One of the most striking aspects of the novel is its characters’ profound self-consciousness about the place of the gangster in American culture.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Ordering a drink can mark the start of a night out, signal relaxation or ease self-consciousness around other people.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of self-consciousness
Noun
  • According to a new study published in PLOS One, both animals show the behavioral hallmarks of mirror self-recognition—a cognitive ability long considered a marker of self-awareness, and one that had never before been documented in beluga whales.
    — Federica Sgorbissa, ArsTechnica, 24 May 2026
  • Research from Frontiers in Neurology and Neuroscience links susceptibility to contagious yawning with theory of mind, self-recognition and activation of brain regions associated with social cognition and empathy.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of self-recognition
Noun
  • Whether that includes external self-analysis alongside the expertise Brighton provide remains to be seen.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • For aspiring owners, self-analysis of one’s personality, financial status, goals and life experiences should become the foundation for future choices.
    — Angelo Chavez, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Definition of self-analysis
Noun
  • Ahead of the sound bath, Oso Sound Healing Studio founder Avery Whitmore said the unconventional space would invite a childlike energy, a deeper connection to animals and introspection.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • While tech billionaires such as Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen may see empathy and introspection as weaknesses, those traits are the beating heart of literature and art, the wellspring of creativity and human connection.
    — Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of introspection
Noun
  • Whether the loss of Jason Arday has prompted any self-reflection for a notoriously ruthless industry remains to be seen, but the headlines about the Sussexes’ move back to Britain have been — so far — surprisingly lukewarm.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The record leaned into self-reflection and self-preservation informed by a divorce, his introduction to fatherhood, and an exploration of his Mexican roots through his signature alternative R&B sound.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of self-reflection
Noun
  • What came of this self-examination were over sixty videos made in high-definition 3D, produced in weekly sessions over the course of more than a year, beginning in February 2025.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Fundamental Questions To Ask CEOs and the board chair should think of the annual review as a self-examination into what is working well today and what can be improved for tomorrow.
    — James Langabeer, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of self-examination
Noun
  • The purpose of this exercise is not to match your paradigm perfectly but to give you a thematic lens for self-observation.
    — Liz Tran, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Anyone who has tracked their daily steps or worn a glucose monitor can testify that self-observation works.
    — Dev Patnaik, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
Definition of self-observation
Noun
  • This month is basically like a bridge between the tumultuousness of August’s eclipses and the soul-searching that October’s Venus Retrograde will bring.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
  • There was a lot of soul-searching on my part for all of the right songs.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of soul-searching

Browse Nearby Words

self-assuredness
self-awareness
self-belt
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Cite this Entry

“Self-awareness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-awareness. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on self-awareness

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about self-awareness

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