soul-searching

noun

soul-search·​ing ˈsōl-ˌsər-chiŋ 

: examination of one's conscience especially with regard to motives and values

Synonyms

• introspection
• self-contemplation
• self-examination
• self-observation
• self-questioning
• self-reflection
• self-scrutiny
• self-searching

Examples of soul-searching in a Sentence

after much soul-searching, they both realized that their marriage was essentially over

Recent Examples on the Web

While the postmortem and soul-searching are necessary, the tone and tenor of the blame game have begun to morph into something more insidious. —Anthony D. Romero, Twin Cities, 6 Dec. 2024

Rasoulof’s script might well have included a scene or two showing Iman’s dirty work in action, rather than consigning his moral dilemma to perhaps one too many soul-searching showers. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 26 Nov. 2024

Democrats are soul-searching in the Southern battlegrounds. —Matthew Cullen, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024

And as the dust settles on 2024, experts also expect Harris may wade into the Democratic Party’s soul-searching efforts and tell her own story of what happened in the race. —Julia Mueller, The Hill, 24 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

soul-searching

noun

soul-search·​ing

ˈsōl-ˌsər-chiŋ

: examination of one's conscience and especially one's reasons and values