as in introspection
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings
many people use the dawning of a new year as an occasion for some quiet self-examination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-examination
With each new Burr special of the last few years, this pattern repeats, with a wall of defensive posturing and then a twist into near-tender self-examination.
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
His new album, Stardust, is his first recorded without substances, and trades self-examination for affirmation.
—Stephen Kearse, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2025
Mother’s turbulent self-examination is incited by the revelation of Sister Agnieszka’s pregnancy in the film’s first Act.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025
This disciplined self-examination is the foundation for refining skills and advancing toward mastery.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-examination
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
His new album, Stardust, is his first recorded without substances, and trades self-examination for affirmation.
—Stephen Kearse, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 2025
Mother’s turbulent self-examination is incited by the revelation of Sister Agnieszka’s pregnancy in the film’s first Act.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025
This disciplined self-examination is the foundation for refining skills and advancing toward mastery.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-examination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-examination
Noun
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Musk occasionally has moments of introspection in his many court battles.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
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In the first three stories, Lilian, as a bereaved mother, goes through life in an altered state, with encounters that increase her sense of introspection.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Throughout these years, Ma began to feel an increasing sense of remorse at his complicity in this system, which sparked deeper soul-searching around his identity as a Muslim, and what that meant within Chinese society.—
Rebecca Wright,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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And for all the soul-searching and probing, Conrad is well aware that kink can lead to comedy—up to a point.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Islamabad is not yet willing to indulge in a bit of self-reflection.—
Mihir Sharma,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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The album’s volley of astute re-creations of this idea sometimes gets in the way of Styles’s attempt to relay sadness or dour self-reflection.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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There are three invitations leaders can offer their direct reports: Play with the technology as a tool for self-observation.—
Michael Hudson,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Noun
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That may be too much heightened self-scrutiny.—
Bryan Price,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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In a foundational study, it was found that companies professing a strong belief in meritocracy were more likely to reward men over equally performing women because the belief in objectivity ironically reduces self-scrutiny in decisions, giving managers subconscious permission to act on stereotypes.—
Heather Price,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Noun
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On the 900 acres, there is a secluded secret chapel that his majesty uses for private contemplation.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
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An episodic framework, physical comedy, a small ensemble of actors who are all at home in their clowns and who will all, at some point, drop the mask to speak to us as themselves — for Ogawa, these are ways to bring effervescence and intimacy to the contemplation of insoluble, heavy things.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-examination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-examination. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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