Inclined to examine one's own thoughts, feelings, and motives.
Reach for it when praising self-examination when it leads to clearer understanding
The introspective memoir questions the author's motives as closely as anyone else's.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm |
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| professional | |
| literary |
everyday
inward-looking
Fits when attention is directed toward the self
Careful Inward-looking can imply isolation or institutional insularity.
warm
Fits when thoughtful consideration of experience is central
Careful Reflective can consider events or ideas without examining the self.
professional
Fits when the person recognizes their patterns, limits, and effects
Careful Self-awareness is an outcome and may come from feedback rather than introspection.
professional
self-questioning
Fits when assumptions and motives are actively challenged
Careful Self-questioning can become corrosive doubt rather than useful insight.
literary
Fits when quiet sustained thought gives the mood its character
Careful Contemplative can be spiritual or outward-looking instead of self-examining.
literary
Fits when slow focused thought creates calm depth
Careful Meditative describes manner and does not require analysis of motives.
introspective person
An introspective person may still need outside evidence about their impact.
introspective mood
The closing movement shifts into an introspective mood.
deeply introspective
Her later essays became deeply introspective without losing social context.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, public domain Updated
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