introspection
4 synonyms and 2 antonyms for introspection, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of examining your own thoughts, feelings and motives.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use introspection
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
moment of introspection
deep introspection
period of introspection
runtime introspection
Neutral to positive, though 'too much introspection' is a common criticism.
Etymology
From Latin introspicere 'to look into', from intro- 'inwards' plus specere 'to look'.
Full origin of introspection →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between introspection and introversion?
Introspection is an activity: examining your own mind. Introversion is a personality trait: preferring quieter, less socially demanding settings. Extroverts introspect too, and introverts do not necessarily do it more.
What is the difference between introspection and retrospection?
Introspection looks inward at your current thoughts and motives. Retrospection looks backward at past events. You might introspect about why you feel anxious now, and retrospect about what happened last year.
Can you have too much introspection?
Psychologists distinguish helpful reflection from rumination, which is repetitive brooding that raises distress without producing insight. The word itself is neutral, but the criticism is common.
