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
After some soul-searching, Ricciardo began to figure out what that word meant in his life.
—
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Throughout these years, Ma began to feel an increasing sense of remorse at his complicity in this system, which sparked deeper soul-searching around his identity as a Muslim, and what that meant within Chinese society.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
And for all the soul-searching and probing, Conrad is well aware that kink can lead to comedy—up to a point.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026
But there has also been sadness and soul-searching about the place the community has in a neighborhood well known for its Jewish roots, and in Australia’s wider society.
—Katie Silver, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soul-searching
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Throughout these years, Ma began to feel an increasing sense of remorse at his complicity in this system, which sparked deeper soul-searching around his identity as a Muslim, and what that meant within Chinese society.
—Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
And for all the soul-searching and probing, Conrad is well aware that kink can lead to comedy—up to a point.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026
But there has also been sadness and soul-searching about the place the community has in a neighborhood well known for its Jewish roots, and in Australia’s wider society.
—Katie Silver, NBC news, 25 Dec. 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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But these flexes are buoyed by wistful introspection.—
Harry Thorfinn-George,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
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Every Male Actor Gets A Role WWII movies are a hard genre to stand out in, but Malick succeeds through introspection, inspired by the novel’s study of character amidst brutal chaos.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The shift from institutional blame to self-examination is where the film found its real subject.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
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Yet her songs remain disarmingly human, meditating on desire, vulnerability, and self-examination.—
Marcus J. Moore,
Pitchfork,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But the two have made up after some self-reflection from Nagelsmann.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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These include psychotherapy that is inspired by the Quran, the teachings of the prophet and spiritual practices such as self-reflection, prayer and mindfulness.—
Anisah Bagasra,
The Conversation,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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And yet, in the scene on the Hill of Love, Lapid offers no self-questioning, no sense of cinematic exertion or trouble, in the fictional framing of the real agonies of Gaza.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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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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True to its intent, this restaurant is indeed a calm yet joy-evoking space for quiet contemplation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Internal memos between the justices in 2016 published by The New York Times have created a firestorm around an institution that takes extraordinary measures to keep its contemplations confidential.—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soul-searching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soul-searching. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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