soul-searching
Americannoun
noun
adjective
Etymology
Origin of soul-searching
First recorded in 1605–15
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.
There’s no point in engaging with a debt-management company in order to get rid of this $35,000 if you don’t do some serious soul-searching about how you got into this hole in the first place.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
By late 2022, the tech market in the doldrums, he retreated from public appearances, and underwent a period of soul-searching.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
The mass shooting has sparked national soul-searching about antisemitism and widespread anger over the failure to shield Jewish Australians from harm.
From Barron's ● May 6, 2026
There will be questions and soul-searching about these horrifying disclosures in the weeks, months and years to come.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
The committee upheld the forfeit, but not without some trepidation and soul-searching.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
