as in introspection
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings
not one for self-scrutiny, the president was known for never looking back or second-guessing himself
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Recent Examples of self-scrutiny
That may be too much heightened self-scrutiny.
—
Bryan Price, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
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
Few other nations are as prone to self-scrutiny and self-criticism, or as engaged in impassioned discourse on the nature of liberty and democracy without fear of governmental repression.
—Kenneth Lasson, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2025
Above all, Raisman is working on breaking free from a vicious cycle of self-scrutiny.
—Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
Since my teens, a tendency to spiral into a tornado of self-scrutiny and expecting the absolute worst to happen have been toxic friends of mine.
—Emma Firth, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2023
Bryan Price, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
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
Few other nations are as prone to self-scrutiny and self-criticism, or as engaged in impassioned discourse on the nature of liberty and democracy without fear of governmental repression.
—Kenneth Lasson, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2025
Above all, Raisman is working on breaking free from a vicious cycle of self-scrutiny.
—Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
Since my teens, a tendency to spiral into a tornado of self-scrutiny and expecting the absolute worst to happen have been toxic friends of mine.
—Emma Firth, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-scrutiny
- introspection
- self-examination
- soul-searching
- self-reflection
- self-observation
- self-questioning
- contemplation
- self-searching
Noun
-
Niazi appears uninterested in asserting her voice on the page, a lack of literary care that seems connected to her tendency—odd in a memoir—to nudge away from introspection.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The effect demands a more active degree of introspection than the average documentary, and Marczak’s unwavering commitment to that endurance test approach has a powerful way of messing with viewer expectations.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In an era where analytics and ever-growing coaching staffs allow teams to self-scout every week, the Patriots seem to have taken a more traditional approach and decided on a makeover after a self-examination last month during their bye.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Some time spent in self-examination could yield new insights.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
There is no way to tackle these questions without deep reflection and a great deal of soul-searching.—
Kenneth Seeskin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This is why assessments that encourage self-reflection can be useful — not as diagnoses, but as mirrors.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Some writers with Murphy’s body of work, then, would see a show like The Beauty as an opportunity for self-reflection and self-critique, but this has never been the thing that Ryan Murphy does best.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
With this news came a several-minute period of self-questioning.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 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
-
For your contemplation, consider the following charts.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The beginning of the year is often the time for contemplation and action.—
Heather L. Locus,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But such athletic excess is part of what makes this album admirable, as is a sense of spiritual and intellectual hunger that’ll be quickly recognizable to anyone familiar with the Ziggy Stardust/Zen Arcade/Tommy school of self-searching rock epic.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2025
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One of many things the culture lost with Lennon’s death was his rare example as a burgeoning and often self-searching male feminist, serving as a role model for men looking to take account of their behavior.—
Jon Pareles,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-scrutiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-scrutiny. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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