introspection

noun

ˌin-trə-ˈspek-shən How to pronounce introspection (audio)
Definition of introspectionnext
as in soul-searching
examination of one's own thoughts and feelings not a man given to introspection, he grew impatient with his wife's constant need to discuss their relationship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of introspection This show about the consequences of limited introspection suffers them as well. — Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 Scotland’s World Cup introspection could start in a few places. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 The performance is an introspection on perseverance, identity and empowerment through the actions of the women followed in the narrative. — Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 31 July 2026 Leaders with curiosity who ask deeper questions, seek new perspectives and pause for introspection will be in great demand. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for introspection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for introspection
  1. soul-searching
  2. self-reflection
  3. self-examination
  4. contemplation
  5. self-observation
  6. self-scrutiny
  7. self-questioning
Noun
  • This month is basically like a bridge between the tumultuousness of August’s eclipses and the soul-searching that October’s Venus Retrograde will bring.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
  • There was a lot of soul-searching on my part for all of the right songs.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of soul-searching
Noun
  • Whether the loss of Jason Arday has prompted any self-reflection for a notoriously ruthless industry remains to be seen, but the headlines about the Sussexes’ move back to Britain have been — so far — surprisingly lukewarm.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The record leaned into self-reflection and self-preservation informed by a divorce, his introduction to fatherhood, and an exploration of his Mexican roots through his signature alternative R&B sound.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of self-reflection
Noun
  • What came of this self-examination were over sixty videos made in high-definition 3D, produced in weekly sessions over the course of more than a year, beginning in February 2025.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Fundamental Questions To Ask CEOs and the board chair should think of the annual review as a self-examination into what is working well today and what can be improved for tomorrow.
    — James Langabeer, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of self-examination
Noun
  • Yet Na also insists on treating his aliens as objects of contemplation and pathos—reflections of our own misshapen humanity.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Sister Mary Grace, 76, loves the opportunity for contemplation and the chance to express it artistically.
    — Kelly Wilkinson, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of contemplation
Noun
  • The purpose of this exercise is not to match your paradigm perfectly but to give you a thematic lens for self-observation.
    — Liz Tran, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Anyone who has tracked their daily steps or worn a glucose monitor can testify that self-observation works.
    — Dev Patnaik, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
Definition of self-observation
Noun
  • And the strategies our minds reach for in moments of doubt—retreat, control, relentless self-scrutiny—can work powerfully against us at the moments that matter most.
    — Karyn Gallant, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • People committed to covenant cannot lose the capacity for moral self-scrutiny.
    — Rabbi Josh Weinberg, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2026
Definition of self-scrutiny
Noun
  • This majestic sequence delivers a lifetime’s outpouring of love’s inadequacies and frustrations, of grief and regret, of gratitude along with candid acceptance of loss, and of self-questioning that never shakes the foundations of the family—her ferocious commitment to the children.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
  • After long periods of grief, reflection and painful self-questioning, most of the families interviewed by The Charlotte Observer no longer seem interested in reducing their children’s deaths to any one thing.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
Definition of self-questioning

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intros
introspection
introspections
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Cite this Entry

“Introspection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/introspection. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on introspection

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about introspection

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