Synonyms

introspective

American

[in-truh-spek-tiv] / ˌɪn trəˈspɛk tɪv /

adjective

characterized by introspection, the act or process of looking into oneself.

Other Word Forms

introspectively adverb
introspectiveness noun
nonintrospective adjective
nonintrospectively adverb
nonintrospectiveness noun
unintrospective adjective
unintrospectively adverb

Etymology

Origin of introspective

First recorded in 1800–10; from Latin intrōspect(us), past participle of intrōspicere “to look within” + -ive ( def. ); introspection ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A pulsing exploration of party culture and collective movement, it's a departure from the tender, introspective ballads on her Mercury Prize-winning debut, Collapsed In Sunbeams and its 2023 follow-up, My Soft Machine.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Housel: I hope they become more introspective and more willing to look in the mirror and ask what genuinely works for them, even if it’s totally different from what social media tells them to want.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026

For as tender and quietly introspective as Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” eventually becomes, the Norwegian writer-director’s latest film opens in a frenzy.

From Salon • Nov. 23, 2025

Popular in Francophone countries, Nothomb’s book includes introspective passages with literary descriptions of the author’s feelings at that young age.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

I suppose they seemed more sensitive and introspective.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023