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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.

See Examples For:

“After much soul searching I’ve decided that I will be easing into fewer performances while focusing on transitioning into the next stage of my career and life moving forward,” Knight said via Instagram on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026

He keeps “Buddy” enjoyably weird to the end, its horror soul in line with the creepypasta ethos of something undefined yet eternal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

But fame and fortune did not affect her remarkable originality, which she once attributed to the "serenity of the soul" that comes from spending time alone.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

A woman killed in a house fire has been described by her mother as "a beautiful soul, who would have done anything for anybody".

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

“I did. I did do that. When I was a wandering soul, the cottage was the only light in the forest. Seemed wrong to leave it dark for too long.”

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

And yet, this villain’s fiery domain, where imps torture souls nearby, is also recognizably Dionysian.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

Fashion designer Donatella Versace said: "The world has lost one of the kindest and most generous of souls, the greatest of story tellers and a true legend of music."

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

It takes souls many incarnations to attain enlightenment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

“Books are like imprisoned souls till someone takes them down from a shelf and frees them.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Even if their souls weren’t lost, they seemed to be horribly trapped on those prints.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Vocabulary lists containing soul

"Encounter"

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"Invictus"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar

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