inwardness
noun
in·ward·ness
ˈin-wərd-nəs 
1
: internal quality or substance
2
: close acquaintance : familiarity
3
: fundamental nature : essence
4
: absorption in one's own mental or spiritual life
Examples of inwardness in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Where artists like Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby pushed the instrument inventively into mostly instrumental jazz, Davis redirects it toward a more singer-songwriterly inwardness.
—
Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
Alongside the radiant climaxes, the chorus achieves spells of shivering inwardness.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Hunger, incompletion, endless deferral, a blank state of isolated inwardness.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Their socialism, its inwardness and self-sufficiency, was a way of incubating Hebrew.
—Jordan Castro, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inwardness
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.
Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
Alongside the radiant climaxes, the chorus achieves spells of shivering inwardness.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Hunger, incompletion, endless deferral, a blank state of isolated inwardness.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Their socialism, its inwardness and self-sufficiency, was a way of incubating Hebrew.
—Jordan Castro, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inwardness
Cite this Entry
“Inwardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inwardness. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
