as in introspection
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings
so consumed with self-questioning that he was virtually paralyzed by self-doubt
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as in self-reflective
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Recent Examples of self-questioning
Chris Reed, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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-examination
- self-observation
- self-scrutiny
Noun
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It was thought that the simple last scene of Tom readying Ethan’s bedroom and giving the always subtly expressive Ruffalo a moment of quiet introspection would do the trick.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
23 Oct. 2025
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Even then, there’s still room for some introspection on the record.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Sentimental Value, a film about a self-reflective director dealing with his two daughters, also played very well.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
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The self-reflective tone marks a thematic shift for a band whose debut radiated a cool irony, pulling emotional punches in favor of observations centered around mid-20s delusion.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As for you … Superlatives Quick Snaps 🐯 Clemson’s bye week means time for some soul-searching at 3-4.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
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The film is a more quiet, wintry contemplation and tortured soul-searching.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In the new film Hot Milk, the sensual but diffident 20-something Sofia (Emma Mackey) travels with her invalid mother, Rose (Fiona Shaw), to the Mediterranean shores of Spain in search of an experimental cure for the latter’s (possibly hypochondriac) illness.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
26 June 2025
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Today, they’re considered all-time greats, geniuses of melody and tension and originators of the diffident, philosophical mode that came to dominate American guitar rock in the new century.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2025
Noun
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With words infallibly falling short, Pritam mingled realism with a fragmentary style of narration that meshes together social encounters, violent episodes, vivid metaphors, disturbing dreams, memories, intimate self-reflections, and introspection on society.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
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The book’s journey through the brain ends at the frontal pole, a region involved in self-reflection — thinking about thinking.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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This disciplined self-examination is the foundation for refining skills and advancing toward mastery.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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Anyone who has tracked their daily steps or worn a glucose monitor can testify that self-observation works.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes,
7 Oct. 2024
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
Cite this Entry
“Self-questioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-questioning. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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