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Synonyms

self-examination

American  
[self-ig-zam-uh-ney-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlf ɪgˌzæm əˈneɪ ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

  1. examination into one's own state, conduct, motives, etc.

  2. Medicine/Medical. examination of one's body for signs of illness or disease.

    breast self-examination.


self-examination British  

noun

  1. scrutiny of one's own conduct, motives, desires, etc

"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

  • self-examining adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-examination

First recorded in 1640–50

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.

Indeed, her book is replete with their habit of self-examination, an unflattering comparison with today’s legacy press.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

On Dec. 20, The Times published a massive self-examination that broke down what went wrong.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2024

There’s precious little time for self-examination of any kind.

From Salon • Jul. 15, 2024

Hearing about a death from breast cancer at age 33 led Chelsea -- then 28 -- to conduct her own self-examination, where she discovered a lump.

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2024

I invite every reader of this paper to join me in calm, searching self-examination, for a few short minutes.

From Practical Religion Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians by Ryle, John Charles