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Synonyms

soulful

American  
[sohl-fuhl] / ˈsoʊl fəl /

adjective

  1. of or expressive of deep feeling or emotion.

    soulful eyes.
soulful British  
/ ˈsəʊlfʊl /

adjective

  1. ironic expressing profound thoughts or feelings

    soulful music
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • soulfully adverb
  • soulfulness noun
  • unsoulful adjective
  • unsoulfully adverb
  • unsoulfulness noun

Etymology

Origin of soulful

First recorded in 1860–65; soul + -ful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She also won best album for her soulful second record, The Art of Loving, as well as song of the year for her current number one collaboration with Sam Fender, Rein Me In.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

It can turn a rancorous conversation into a more soulful and forgiving one.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026

This novel about two imperfect yet soulful men, their destinies joined, found a surprising, poetic resonance in the real-life struggle between former running mates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

On one balcony, a recording of Nina Simone’s soulful 1965 rendition of the spiritual “Sinnerman” is set over pirated archival footage of the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War protests.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

After delivering a moving eulogy for Reverend Pinckney and acknowledging the deep tragedy of the moment, Barack surprised everyone by leading the congregation in a slow and soulful rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.