introspective
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of introspective
First recorded in 1800–10; from Latin intrōspect(us), past participle of intrōspicere “to look within” + -ive ( def. ); see introspection ( def. )
Explanation
Someone who is introspective spends considerable time examining his own thoughts and feelings. If you take to your diary after an unhappy break-up, you are being introspective. The Latin word introspicere means to look inside, and that's what an introspective person does, metaphorically speaking. It's different from meditative and pensive in that they can refer to contemplating anything, whereas introspection involves specifically contemplating yourself.
Vocabulary lists containing introspective
Common Senses: Spec, Spect, Spic ("Look")
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "I"
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Think Like Sherlock: It's Elementary
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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.
But it’s poignantly introspective on tracks like “What Is Left to Say” and “I Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
Silverman said Meta's leadership seemed initially unsure how to respond to toxic content on the platform and there was a period of time when the company was "genuinely introspective".
From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026
Housel: I hope they become more introspective and more willing to look in the mirror and ask what genuinely works for them, even if it’s totally different from what social media tells them to want.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026
Reflecting that structure, many of the songs are solos, often introspective ballads, with varying, more upbeat collective numbers set mostly at Auggie’s school.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025
I have a feeling your journal entries were more introspective and philosophical.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
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.
