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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of soul-searching
Engage in a bit of soul-searching.
—
Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
This whole last year has been a year of soul-searching.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Peterson’s messages about masculinity have found an audience among young men seeking direction and prompted soul-searching among Christian podcasting pastors.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
But Black Wednesday also sparked deeper soul-searching.
—Kyle Westaway, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soul-searching
Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
This whole last year has been a year of soul-searching.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Peterson’s messages about masculinity have found an audience among young men seeking direction and prompted soul-searching among Christian podcasting pastors.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
But Black Wednesday also sparked deeper soul-searching.
—Kyle Westaway, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
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
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Part comedy show, part profound introspection into the furthest depths of grief and loss, Kayne’s Sorry for Your Loss premieres March 27, 2026.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
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Six-year-old Misha’s playful hunt for a phantom spy unfolds against the quiet unease of Soviet adulthood, blending innocence with historical introspection.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
17 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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In a moment of rare institutional self-reflection, Powell conceded that the Fed kept its balance sheet expansion going too long during the pandemic.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
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Learn about yourself And third, do some self-reflection and get to know all of the parts of yourself.—
Jane Marie Chen,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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The latest exhibit at Marquette's free Haggerty Museum of Art combines abstract pieces and spiritual contemplation.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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This is coming after a period of rest, contemplation, and confusion about where your life is headed.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soul-searching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soul-searching. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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