Skip to main content
soul

soul

148 4.0
Deep feeling in music, art, or performance
  • noun
  • /soʊl/
: alma
  • They understood that art should enrich the soul, not the bank balance.
  • heart and soul
  • soul-stirring
  • soul-searching

They understood that art should enrich the soul, not the bank balance.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Do you hear how she, she hits the high notes so... so perfectly from the depths of her soul?

  • Those details are burned into my soul forever.

  • With all your might, with all your soul, with all your heart.

  • But because he felt it in his soul so much, it worked.

  • But I put all that soul into it and like it.

  • It's making my soul sing

  • The artist creates with their soul, with their being.

  • It just does my soul good, having you close.

  • We expect our favorite performers to express their soul and speak to ours through their interpretation.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The musician filled the stage with his soul during the heartfelt performance.

Synonyms

spirit
vssoul
822 3.1

A person's mood or energy, often lively and positive

expresses deep emotional intensity rather than general mood or energy
depth
vssoul
117 3.6

A strong, intense quality in sound, color or feeling

is about deep feeling specifically expressed in art or performance
2 5.3

Strong and complex feelings shown in art, writing, or by a person

is focused on strong emotional intensity in art music or performance
soulfulness
vssoul
1 6.4

A deep, strong feeling in music or art that moves people

is the broader notion of deep feeling often shown in art or performance
7.2

A strong emotional effect that something like music or words has on people

is the internal intense feeling often shown by artists or performers

Antonyms

31 6.5

A state of being average and not special

10 7.2

An idea or remark that is very obvious and boring

Idioms

The most important part that holds a group or thing together

heart and soul
  • Informal
26 3.3

In a way that shows complete energy and strong commitment

body and soul
  • Informal
9 4.5

With complete dedication and strong belief

rest his soul
  • Archaic
1 9.0

People say it to show respect for a man who has died

A person who makes parties fun by being lively and entertaining others

8.3

Act badly to get money, power, or success

Compounds

38 3.4

A person you feel a deep, natural connection with as a close friend or romantic partner

A deep, honest time of thinking about your feelings and choices

7 3.7

Food that African American families in the southern United States cook at home

3 7.9

A small area of hair just under the lower lip above the chin

soul-sucking
  • Informal
2 8.5

Making you feel very tired and empty inside

2 4.8

A person who feels a deep connection and shares your interests and values

soul brother
  • Archaic
2 7.5

A Black man who shares close friendship and support in his community

soul kiss
  • NSFW
1 7.8

An open-mouthed touch of lips and tongue to show strong feeling

stormtossed soul
  • Literature
9.9

A person who feels very upset and lost because of strong emotions

How Intense

passion
463 2.5
soul
148 4.0
emotion
∞ 1.6
feeling
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

soul singular
souls plural

Etymology

Soul has long stood for a person's inner life and feeling, so when we say music or art has soul we mean it shows real, deep emotion from inside the person.