as in introspection
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings
after much soul-searching, they both realized that their marriage was essentially over
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Recent Examples of soul-searching
Barnes met Imam in a moment of soul-searching.
—
Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
But thankfully, Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are spared any such soul-searching.
—Lindsey Bahr, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Artificial intelligence powerhouse Anthropic’s battle with the Pentagon has sparked some soul-searching in Silicon Valley that could reshape the tech sector’s complicated relationship with war and the White House.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The move has stirred both controversy and soul-searching among Dallas officials, as well as sparking conversations about the future of the city’s urban core.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soul-searching
Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
But thankfully, Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are spared any such soul-searching.
—Lindsey Bahr, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Artificial intelligence powerhouse Anthropic’s battle with the Pentagon has sparked some soul-searching in Silicon Valley that could reshape the tech sector’s complicated relationship with war and the White House.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The move has stirred both controversy and soul-searching among Dallas officials, as well as sparking conversations about the future of the city’s urban core.
—Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soul-searching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soul-searching
- introspection
- self-examination
- self-reflection
- self-searching
- self-questioning
- self-scrutiny
- contemplation
Noun
-
This brand of builder has a high tolerance for risk and isn’t afraid to list having empathy or self-introspection as vulnerabilities.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
-
Embarrassment over a vulgar and inept political class seems unlikely to open out into severe introspection among the United States’ intellectual and cultural elites, who are primed to regurgitate the narratives of American exceptionalism.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Macy’s was notorious in its industry for how siloed its teams and culture were, characteristics that impeded prior turnaround efforts until Spring, CEO since 2024, instilled a culture of self-examination and an ability to admit mistakes before quickly moving on.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
-
Esalen framed this and similar efforts not just as political education but as deeply transformative experiences requiring self-examination and accountability.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Miraval has long encouraged guests to limit or even forego their use of digital devices as a way of enhancing awareness of one’s surroundings and allowing moments for self-reflection and personal growth.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
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Opportunities for self-reflection abound across the summer calendar.—
Kayla Samoy,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
While there’s still some of the angst and self-searching of Girls, Too Much is classic odd-couple romcom.—
James Medd,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 July 2025
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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
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
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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
Noun
-
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
-
Their eyes evoke deep contemplation of the transience of life.—
Anthony Kuhn,
NPR,
11 June 2026
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Space and contemplation, themes in his daily life, are also the foundation of Love Is the New Gangsta.—
Meagan Jordan,
VIBE.com,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soul-searching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soul-searching. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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