soul-searching
[sohl-sur-ching]
- the act or process of close and penetrating analysis of oneself, to determine one's true motives and sentiments.
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Origin of soul-searching
First recorded in 1605–15
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
contemplationreflectionruminationself-examinationmeditationself-analysisheart-searchingself-questioningExamples from the Web for soul-searching
Contemporary Examples
And then, finally, I think it's going to be important for all of us to do some soul-searching.
The disaster has inspired a backlash and a round of soul-searching.
And so now the hand-wringing, second-guessing, and soul-searching begins.
GOP Rank and File May Block Leaders’ Plans to Win Latinos With ReformLaura Colarusso
November 12, 2012
The party, after months of shock and soul-searching, finally appears to have moved on, as primary ballots loom in October.
These conversations, and lots of soul-searching, helped me come to some degree of peace with my childhood.
Historical Examples
He paused, and their eyes were locked in a soul-searching look.
A Breath of Prairie and other storiesWill Lillibridge
On the wind was coming the ghost of a smell, faint and horrible and soul-searching.
The Beach of DreamsH. De Vere Stacpoole
I've done some soul-searching myself, and it hasn't been a pleasant task.
The Lani PeopleJ. F. Bone
The only questions asked were soul-searching ones put to herself.
The Foolish VirginThomas Dixon
She expected some curt, soul-searching question at the end of it.
The OddsEthel M. Dell
soul-searching
- deep or critical examination of one's motives, actions, beliefs, etc
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- displaying the characteristics of deep or painful self-analysis
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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