Search Dictionary
Definition of soulful

soulful

/ˈsoʊl.fəl/
soul · ful
Adverb:soulfully
JUMP TO:

soulful Lexical Profile

soulful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Expressing or appearing to feel deep, often sorrowful or yearning emotion.

Example

"The singer delivered a soulful ballad that moved the entire audience to tears."

2

Characteristic of or evoking the style, rhythm, and emotional intensity of soul music or African American gospel and blues traditions.

Example

"Her latest album features rich horn arrangements and soulful vocals inspired by classic 1960s recordings."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for soulful
Antonyms
View all antonyms for soulful

• Rhymes for soulful

• Nearby Words

souffle
souk
soul
soulful
soulfully
soulfulness
soulless

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the late 16th century from the Old English noun 'sawol' (meaning 'spiritual and emotional part of a person') combined with the suffix '-ful'. Its modern musical sense associating the word with African American gospel, blues, and soul music emerged in the mid-20th century.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Soulful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/soulful
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.