Soulful
adj.thoughtful, joyfulliterary
What it means
Expressing deep, sincere feeling in a way that seems to come from the inner self.
Reach for it when praising a voice, look, or performance for emotional depth
Kemi gave the old folk song a soulful reading that quieted the entire hall.
Choose between these
8- everyday
emotional
when strong feeling is simply present
not when It is neutral and can suggest loss of control, unlike positive soulful praise.
- everyday
when intensity and conviction drive the performance
not when Passion is hotter and more forceful than soulful inward depth.
- warm
when sincerity and personal feeling matter most
not when A heartfelt speech need not have the artistic depth suggested by soulful.
- warm
when the audience's emotional response is the evidence
not when Something can move listeners through story or circumstance rather than soulful delivery.
- warm
when truth of feeling matters without artistic flourish
not when Sincerity alone may sound plain rather than emotionally rich.
- professional
when feeling or meaning is communicated clearly
not when Expression can be lively or technical without deep emotion.
- formal
when the work awakens strong feeling in others
not when Stirring describes effect on an audience, not necessarily the performer's sincerity.
- literary
poignant
when beauty is sharpened by sadness or tenderness
not when Joyful depth without sadness is soulful but not poignant.
Said against
3- soulless
- flat
- mechanical
It naturally appears in
3- soulful voice
Her soulful voice carried the final unaccompanied verse.
- soulful performance
The actor's soulful performance found grief beneath the character's jokes.
- soulful eyes
The portrait's soulful eyes made the formal pose feel intimate.