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soul-searching

[ sohl-sur-ching ]
/ ˈsoʊlˌsɜr tʃɪŋ /
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SEE MORE 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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RELATED WORDS

contemplation, reflection, rumination, self-examination, meditation, self-analysis, heart-searching, self-questioning

Nearby words

  1. soul music,
  2. soul of, the,
  3. soul sister,
  4. soul-destroying,
  5. soul-kiss,
  6. soulful,
  7. soulfully,
  8. soulless,
  9. soullessly,
  10. soulmate

Origin of soul-searching

First recorded in 1605–15
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for soul-searching

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