soul-searching

comparative more soul-searching · superlative most soul-searching · alternative soul searching · alternative soulsearching

1. Involving probing introspection, or a critical consideration of one's conscience, especially motives and values.

   We should pause, even for a moment, to do a soul-searching exercise before participating in Communion.

   2008, Mindy Caliguire, “Experience Four: Responding to Grace”, in Soul Searching, Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, →ISBN, page 99

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   Fortune had showered upon him gifts unlooked for; had enabled him, had he been blessed with prudence, to keep the path where he could have been free from ostentatious obligation, on the one hand, and soul searching mortification on the other: but, like an improvident spendthrift, he had lavished away in the fever of indiscretion, the gifts she had bestowed with so liberal a hand; […]

   1794, Henry Fielding, “Mr. Henry Fielding”, in The Mock Doctor; or, The Dumb Lady Cured. A Ballad Farce, in Two Acts, Written by Mr. Henry Fielding. As Performed at the Theatres-Royal, Covent-Garden and Hay-Market, London: Printed by J[ohn] Jarvis, for J[ohn] Parsons, nº 21, Paternoster-Row, →OCLC, page ix

   His face is fair, rather oval, his eye dark, soft and bashful, glows with a soul-searching kindness; […]

   1831, Anne [Newport] Royall, “Camden”, in Mrs. Royall's Southern Tour, or Second Series of the Black Book. … In Three or More Volumes, volume II, Washington: [s.n.], →OCLC, pages 44–45

   He [Thomas Shepard] was a soul-searching minister of the gospel. By his death, not only the church and people of Cambridge, but also all New England, sustained a very great loss.

   1853, Thomas Shepard, John A[dams] Albro, “Life of Thomas Shepard. [Chapter XII.]”, in The Works of Thomas Shepard, First Pastor of the First Church, Cambridge, Mass. with a Memoir of His Life and Character [by John A. Albro], volume I, Boston, Mass.: Doctrinal Tract and Book Society, →OCLC, page clxxx

   Very simple but very soul-searching was the preparation, but very peremptory was the command to all never to neglect to share in the divinely-instituted sacrament.

   1885, Canon Spence [Henry Donald Maurice Spence-Jones], The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles: A Translation with Notes; and Excursus (I. to IX.) Illustrative of the “Teaching”; and the Greek Text, London: James Nisbet, →OCLC, page 66

   Whatever one thinks of [Frederick Campbell] Crews's indictment, the issues he raises represent important challenges to psychoanalysis and should encourage serious, even soulsearching, thought on the part of psychoanalytic adherents.

   1988 May, Morris N. Eagle, “Is Psychoanalysis a Fraudulent Doctrine?”, in Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books, volume 33, number 5, →DOI, abstract, page 404

plural soul-searchings · alternative soul searching · alternative soulsearching

1. countableuncountableProbing introspection; a critical consideration of one's conscience; also, an instance of such consideration.

   After much soul-searching I decided to confess.

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   You’d better do some serious soul-searching before you decide to leave her.

   So it is with great regret, after long soul-searching, that I must inform you that I cannot in good conscience support your decision to pardon former President [Richard] Nixon even before he has been charged with the commission of any crime.

   1974 September 8, Jerald F[ranklin] terHorst, letter of resignation as White House Press Secretary, quoted in Jerald F. terHorst, Gerald Ford and the Future of the Presidency, New York, N.Y.: Third Press, 1974, page 236

   To the militarists foreign conquest offered a solution to several problems at once: how to expand markets for Japanese products, how to guarantee sources of raw materials, how to restore national self-confidence at a moment of soulsearching, and how to consolidate political power at home.

   1992, H[enry] W[illiam] Brands, “The Bottom Line: 1927–1934”, in Bound to Empire: The United States and the Philippines, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 144

   Much soul-searching is going on at the west London club who, just seven weeks ago, were five points clear at the top of the table and playing with the verve with which they won the title last season.

   2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 – 0 Bolton”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 06 Mar 2016

   And yet, arresting figures suggesting a decline in early season ratings have prompted an outbreak of soul‑searching at those broadcasters and head‑scratching among analysts.

   2016 October 24, Owen Gibson, “Is the unthinkable happening – are people finally switching the football off?”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 10 Jan 2017

alternative soul searching · alternative soulsearching

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of soul-search