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.
If the defeat is confirmed, then the party in Wales is likely to undergo a period of soul-searching, lesson-learning and an attempt to find a new direction to win back voters.
From BBC • May 7, 2026
Artificial intelligence powerhouse Anthropic’s battle with the Pentagon has sparked some soul-searching in Silicon Valley that could reshape the tech sector’s complicated relationship with war and the White House.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026
Indeed, such has been the level of contemplation regarding Frank's immediate future at Tottenham in recent weeks that this loss will almost certainly trigger further soul-searching from the club's leadership group.
From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026
Yes, according to career coaches, though it requires some soul-searching, planning for what’s next and, frankly, sucking it up.
From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026
King’s advisors argued and pleaded with him, but he was done soul-searching.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
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.
