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
The scale of Trump's triumph has sparked widespread soul-searching within the Democratic Party over what went wrong and how to rebuild.
—
Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
In fact, Coogler switched one of two opening scenes inside a church used as a framing device from Ultra Panavision to IMAX because its soul-searching intensity was better suited for the format.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 19 Apr. 2025
Still, to see the pluralism pivot entirely as an exercise in covering your ass would miss the depth of the soul-searching that college presidents are doing.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
There’s a lot of soul-searching going on with Democrats right now.
—Kellen Browning, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soul-searching
Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
In fact, Coogler switched one of two opening scenes inside a church used as a framing device from Ultra Panavision to IMAX because its soul-searching intensity was better suited for the format.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 19 Apr. 2025
Still, to see the pluralism pivot entirely as an exercise in covering your ass would miss the depth of the soul-searching that college presidents are doing.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
There’s a lot of soul-searching going on with Democrats right now.
—Kellen Browning, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soul-searching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soul-searching
Noun
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Princess of Power offers playful, euphoric pop tinged with deeper introspection about growing older.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2025
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But active, conscious introspection has a dark side: rumination, or getting fixated on a problem and going over it again and again, which can make things worse and trap people in a negative thought spiral.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
2 June 2025
Noun
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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
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Take a cue from the pros and make time for self-examination.—
Janine Schindler,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Justin Bieber has been documenting what appears to be an intense period of self-reflection through a series of Instagram posts for more than three months.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2025
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Applicants are in the early days of self-reflection; life on a treadmill is unexamined.—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
16 June 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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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
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Above all, Raisman is working on breaking free from a vicious cycle of self-scrutiny.—
Katie Camero,
USA TODAY,
29 Feb. 2024
Noun
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The words in the video montages and the quiet periods of contemplation as supporters, some with tears in their eyes, struggle to pull themselves away from their seats.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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For those who are so inclined, combining daily self-reflection with meditative experiences such as attending retreats invites contemplation of deeper spiritual or existential questions.—
Harry Kraemer,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soul-searching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soul-searching. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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