soul-searching

[ sohl-sur-ching ]

/ ˈsoʊlˌsɜr tʃɪŋ /

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See synonyms for soul-searching on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act or process of close and penetrating analysis of oneself, to determine one's true motives and sentiments.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of soul-searching

First recorded in 1605–15

Words nearby soul-searching

soulful, soul-kiss, soulless, soul mate, soul music, soul-searching, soul sister, Soult, sou marqué, sound, soundalike

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use soul-searching in a sentence

But there were also moments of personal soul searching—the resurfacing of questions that never fully go away.
Black Hawk Down’s Long Shadow|Daniel Klaidman|October 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The ball is squarely in the Pakistani court, and now is the time to engage in deep strategic soul-searching and reconfiguration.
John Kerry’s Message to Pakistan|Omar Samad|August 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And then, finally, I think it's going to be important for all of us to do some soul-searching.
Full Remarks by President Obama on Trayvon Martin|The Daily Beast|July 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The disaster has inspired a backlash and a round of soul-searching.
American Apparel’s Dov Charney on the Bangladesh Tragedy|Daniel Gross|May 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

And even so, even commonplace as they are, such incidents invariably trigger the same anguished soul-searching.
A Nation of Onlookers: India’s Violence Against Women and America’s Guns|Dilip D’Souza|December 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It sounded like the voice of a soul searching for something it could never find.
Patchwork|Anna Balmer Myers
On the wind was coming the ghost of a smell, faint and horrible and soul-searching.
The Beach of Dreams|H. De Vere Stacpoole
For a single moment longer she stood, her soul searching his through her wonderful eyes.
Corporal Cameron|Ralph Connor
The only questions asked were soul-searching ones put to herself.
The Foolish Virgin|Thomas Dixon
The proof to which God put Abraham is the most soul-searching proof that ever comes into human lives.
Living for the Best|James G. K. McClure

British Dictionary definitions for soul-searching

soul-searching

noun

deep or critical examination of one's motives, actions, beliefs, etc

adjective

displaying the characteristics of deep or painful self-analysis

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

soul-searching

Origin of soul-searching

Words nearby soul-searching

Words related to soul-searching

How to use soul-searching in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for soul-searching