74 Synonyms & Antonyms For SOUL

Synonyms & Antonyms

Frequently Asked Questions

Examples

Related Words

Definitions soul [sohl] / soʊl / NOUN psyche, inspiration, energy Synonyms STRONGEST conscience courage ego feeling genius heart intellect intelligence life mind personality spirit stuff thought vitality STRONG anima animation animus ardor bosom bottom breast cause disposition essence fervor force individuality marrow nobility noumenon pith principle quintessence reason substance vivacity WEAK animating principle breath of life pneuma recesses of heart secret self spiritual being vital force élan vital Antonyms STRONGEST concrete cowardice fear ignorance thing STRONG coolness discouragement exteriority outside WEAK body NOUN being Synonyms STRONGEST body character creature ghost human being individual man person spirit woman STRONG mortal personage phantom shadow umbra WEAK living soul Antonyms STRONGEST abstract being inanimate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for a soul? The literal meaning of the word soul is the spirit that’s believed to inhabit a person separate from their body—the spiritual self, as opposed to the physical self (this sense is reflected in the phrase body and soul). In this sense, some believe the soul survives after the death of the body—in a form we might call a spirit or ghost. Some people associate the soul with a person’s inner self or essence, or perhaps their personality, ego, or psyche. Soul is often also used in figurative and metaphorical ways. The phrase soul-searching means contemplating what a person feels in their heart (in the figurative sense) or conscience. Soul is sometimes used as a way to refer to a person, as in Not a soul was left on board. Expressions like old soul and creative soul emphasize a person’s sensibilities. To say that someone has soul often means that they have spirit, courage, and passion. Someone who’s described as soulful is passionate or expressive. Sometimes, soul is used to refer to the core or driving force behind something. This sometimes refers to a person, as in Kate is the soul of this operation. Heart is sometimes used in the same way, as is the phrase heart and soul. Much more specifically, soul is often used to describe things involving Black American culture, such as soul food. The word soul is commonly used as a short way of referring to soul music. What is the difference between soul and spirit? Soul and spirit are used interchangeably in many contexts. In some cases, though, they have different shades of meaning or are used in ways that are different altogether. Much of the time, the word soul is more intense. For example, the spirit of the nation might refer to the prevailing attitude, while the soul of the nation usually refers to something deeper—the core beliefs and values of its people. Similarly, saying that someone has spirit often means that they have a good attitude and pluck, while saying that a person has soul is similar but deeper and more intense. Use of the words differs in different ways in different contexts.

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.

The weekly drama followed the lives of a group of teenagers living in the fictional town of Capeside, Mass. Van Der Beek’s Dawson was a sensitive soul and an aspiring filmmaker.

From The Wall Street Journal

“But I knew in my heart and soul I was never going let the movie out without that being in it.”

From Los Angeles Times

He had a heart full of love and a soul that was kind.

From Literature

The analysis illuminates one of the most confounding aspects of “Beloved”: the character called Beloved is the ghost of the murdered daughter and also of an unknown soul who died in the Middle Passage.

From The Wall Street Journal

While reading Catherine profess, “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same,” one doesn’t need the aid of a film’s visuals.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

Words related to soul are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word soul. Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

anima being being body bosom bottom breasts breast creature creatures élan vital empathy essence ghosts ghost gist gravamen heart heart heart human being human individuals individual inner man inside insides interior interiors life life lives lives marrow mind mood moods mortal music nitty-gritty nitty gritties persona person phantasma piths pith psyche quintessence rapport root sense spirit stuff subconscious substance substances temperament temper vital force visitant

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.