1
as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions
the United States officially recognizes 18 as the age at which someone is entitled to self-determination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another
rebels fighting for the territory's self-determination
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-determination
One of those feelings is the desire for self-determination — more so, even, than a desire to be surrounded by friends — paving the way for a new story in the series’ next inevitable season.
—
Nina Metz Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025
The precise cut of her trousers, the strategic placement of cufflinks, the calculated tilt of a fedora—these elements compose not merely an outfit but a visual argument about belonging, authority, and self-determination.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 12 May 2025
Style, in this tradition, is both self-expression and self-determination.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
But the Netherlands wanted the approximately 500,000 Papuans who inhabited the territory—a largely Christian people who did not want unification with Muslim Indonesia—to achieve self-determination, charging Sukarno with being neo-imperialist.
—Timothy Naftali, Foreign Affairs, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Nina Metz Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025
The precise cut of her trousers, the strategic placement of cufflinks, the calculated tilt of a fedora—these elements compose not merely an outfit but a visual argument about belonging, authority, and self-determination.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 12 May 2025
Style, in this tradition, is both self-expression and self-determination.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
But the Netherlands wanted the approximately 500,000 Papuans who inhabited the territory—a largely Christian people who did not want unification with Muslim Indonesia—to achieve self-determination, charging Sukarno with being neo-imperialist.
—Timothy Naftali, Foreign Affairs, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-determination
Noun
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Goal of the season This was a choice between Bowen’s superb strike from outside the box against Ipswich and his volley against Forest.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
-
Automating Reputation Management Online reputation drives consumer choice, with 91% looking at online reviews before hiring a contractor.—
Matthew Bentley,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Noun
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Stop micromanaging teams to death—a little autonomy helps.—
Jon Michail,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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Read More: What the History of Saint Augustine Can Teach us About Pope Leo XIV Despite setting limits on the autonomy of the American Church, the social teachings of Leo XIII had enormous influence on Catholicism in the U.S., especially after the horrors of World War I.—
Time,
Time,
29 May 2025
Noun
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But Ukraine accuses Russia of seeking to seize control of the country and remove its sovereignty in an imperial war of aggression.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
-
Canadians were not happy when U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer extended a state visit invitation to Mr. Trump on behalf of the king during a time when Mr. Trump threatened Canada’s sovereignty.—
ROB GILLIES,
Christian Science Monitor,
27 May 2025
Noun
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Mossad leadership has in past decades made direct contact with Iraqi Kurdish officials, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the first and potentially only world leader to support the KRG's independence bid in 2017, prompting further regional backlash.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
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The region’s hip-hop culture is known for its independence and insular spirit born of a combination of pimp culture, Black Panther ideology, and funk music.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
30 May 2025
Noun
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By the State of the People Power Tour that is aiming to ignite a grassroots movement to lift up voices and advance freedom and justices.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
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Dylan, a baker’s apprentice, wants to marry her; their journey on his moped is one of the film’s loveliest sequences, an image of freedom and happiness that suggests such a life might be within reach.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-determination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-determination. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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