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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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-scrutiny
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
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
- contemplation
- self-searching
Noun
-
Jupiter's transit through Cancer sparks conversations and creativity, but Saturn in Aries encourages more introspection and solitude to gain deeper insights.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
14 June 2025
-
The 2023 revelations about Brand led to much anger and entertainment industry introspection.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
Constellation should use this black eye as an opportunity for brutally honest self-examination.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2025
-
This self-examination seems glib (whereas del Toro was actually more affecting as the desperate artist in The French Dispatch).—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
The scale of the Republican Party's triumph in November—taking the White House, flipping the Senate, and maintaining control of the House—has sparked soul-searching within the Democratic Party over what went wrong and how to rebuild.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
-
Democrats went through similar soul-searching after presidential losses in 1984 and 1988.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
The film’s poise and structure create a perfect vacuum of self-reflection.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
27 June 2025
-
There’s no better time for self-reflection with Mercury moving into Leo.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
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
-
And when the internet bloomed, people grew alarmed that easy access to information would erode our capacity for concentration and contemplation.—
Robert B. Tucker,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
The song plays as Jack reflects on everything unfolding in his world — a moment of quiet contemplation and inner reckoning.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
18 June 2025
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
-
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 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share