soulful

[sohl-fuh l]

See more synonyms for soulful on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or expressive of deep feeling or emotion: soulful eyes.

Origin of soulful

First recorded in 1860–65; soul + -ful

Related formssoul·ful·ly, adverbsoul·ful·ness, nounun·soul·ful, adjectiveun·soul·ful·ly, adverbun·soul·ful·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for soulful

Contemporary Examples

But not all of us can put our feelings into a catchy and soulful song.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Taylor Swift in Your Life
Allison McNearney
November 29, 2014
Her voice, booming and soulful, capturing the attention of every ear in the theater, confirms what she is capable of.
The Swedish Queen of Soulful Pop: Mapei Won’t Wait for You to Listen
Caitlin Dickson
October 16, 2014
Oscarologists are campaigning for the actor to get a nod for his soulful, steady breakout turn.
‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ Star Oscar Isaac Is About to Be a Very Big Deal
Kevin Fallon
December 5, 2013
Everybody that touched that show was so talented and soulful and generous as people and performers.
John Gallagher Jr., Star of ‘Newsroom’ and ‘Short Term 12,’ Is Hollywood’s Nicest Guy
Kevin Fallon
August 23, 2013
The sound is "rooted on a tropical island," they say, a fine blend of eclectic, retro, soulful grooves, and sunshine.
10 Great Bands You’ve Never Heard
Winston Ross
May 26, 2013

Historical Examples

If I had my way I'd be as pretty as a cinema star and twice as soulful.
Mixed Faces
Roy Norton
They introduced him into all the most soulful circles of artistic society.
Sketches in Lavender, Blue and Green
Jerome K. Jerome
He would sit and gaze at281 me in the most soulful, appreciative way.
Torchy
Sewell Ford
What was he doing, sitting there gleaming, carried away, soulful?
The Rainbow
D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
How enormous her dark eyes were, Daoud thought, how soulful.
The Saracen: Land of the Infidel
Robert Shea

British Dictionary definitions for soulful

soulful

adjective

sometimes ironic expressing profound thoughts or feelingssoulful music

Derived Formssoulfully, adverbsoulfulness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for soulful

adj.

"full of feeling," 1860, from soul (n.1) + -ful. Meaning "expressive of characteristic Black feeling" is from 1964 (see soul (n.2)). Earlier as a noun (1640s), "as much as a soul can hold."

soulful

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}soulful

Examples from the Web for soulful

Contemporary Examples

But not all of us can put our feelings into a catchy and soulful song.

Her voice, booming and soulful, capturing the attention of every ear in the theater, confirms what she is capable of.

Oscarologists are campaigning for the actor to get a nod for his soulful, steady breakout turn.

Everybody that touched that show was so talented and soulful and generous as people and performers.

The sound is "rooted on a tropical island," they say, a fine blend of eclectic, retro, soulful grooves, and sunshine.

Historical Examples

If I had my way I'd be as pretty as a cinema star and twice as soulful.

They introduced him into all the most soulful circles of artistic society.

He would sit and gaze at281 me in the most soulful, appreciative way.

What was he doing, sitting there gleaming, carried away, soulful?

How enormous her dark eyes were, Daoud thought, how soulful.

soulful

Word Origin and History for soulful

adj.

Origin of soulful