as in introspection
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings
so consumed with self-questioning that he was virtually paralyzed by self-doubt
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in self-reflective
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-questioning
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
After long periods of grief, reflection and painful self-questioning, most of the families interviewed by The Charlotte Observer no longer seem interested in reducing their children’s deaths to any one thing.
—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
But users can instruct it to be tentative, hesitant, self-questioning or even deliberately clumsy.
—
Chris Reed,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
This majestic sequence delivers a lifetime’s outpouring of love’s inadequacies and frustrations, of grief and regret, of gratitude along with candid acceptance of loss, and of self-questioning that never shakes the foundations of the family—her ferocious commitment to the children.
—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
After long periods of grief, reflection and painful self-questioning, most of the families interviewed by The Charlotte Observer no longer seem interested in reducing their children’s deaths to any one thing.
—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
But users can instruct it to be tentative, hesitant, self-questioning or even deliberately clumsy.
—
Chris Reed,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-questioning
- introspection
- self-reflective
- soul-searching
- diffident
- self-reflection
- self-flagellating
- self-examination
- self-observation
Noun
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That’s why introspection and self-knowledge are at the core of every spiritual and philosophical tradition—the drive not just to know the world but to know ourselves, with each layer of self-knowledge unlocking a deeper one.
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Your desire for solitude and introspection is strong during today’s Scorpio moon.
Adjective
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The actress and the artist behind that was a self-reflective person, a hardworking artist who was very interested in getting better at her craft.
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Over time, kids who develop strong people skills also tend to become more flexible, adaptable, and self-reflective.
Noun
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The group’s musical soul-searching is what gets most attention in the ReLoad box set.
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Carmy vowed to get the restaurant out of debt before savoring some soul-searching and crafting a new recipe for success.
Adjective
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As the trailer tells us, the pleasantly diffident Mona (Moore) is thrown way out of orbit following an audition for a musical show.
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To strangers, Kay seemed demure, diffident, even shy, an impression her youthful appearance helped create.
Noun
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Andy Sachs exemplifies an adaptive optimist, challenging norms and fostering open environments through self-reflection and curiosity.
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That friction is an opportunity for self-reflection.
Adjective
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At times, Carol’s admirable rebelliousness seems to come at the cost of self-flagellating destruction, a badge of honor to be miserable.
Noun
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When creating the novel, Akil was inspired by the collective interest in self-examination and the interior self.
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In fact, much of our technology is designed to distract us from, or worse, replace this loop of self-examination and improvement.
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.
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There are three invitations leaders can offer their direct reports: Play with the technology as a tool for self-observation.
Cite this Entry
“Self-questioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-questioning. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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