1
as in democracy
government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation
self-government implies faith in the wisdom and essential goodness of the people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
steely self-government was all that kept her from lashing out at the rude customer
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3
as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another
championed self-government for the nation's indigenous peoples
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-government
Democracy is self-government, the business of everyday people governing themselves.
—
Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 5 Oct. 2024
Our country should be placed speedily above the plane of confessing herself a failure at self-government.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
In 2008, a majority of Greenlanders voted for further home rule, to, in essence, continue a process towards sovereignty and self-government.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 10 Feb. 2025
During the Gaza war, the Saudi government (and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself) moved from making ambiguous statements about Palestinian self-government to making clear demands for Palestinian statehood.
—Elliott Abrams, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 5 Oct. 2024
Our country should be placed speedily above the plane of confessing herself a failure at self-government.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
In 2008, a majority of Greenlanders voted for further home rule, to, in essence, continue a process towards sovereignty and self-government.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 10 Feb. 2025
During the Gaza war, the Saudi government (and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself) moved from making ambiguous statements about Palestinian self-government to making clear demands for Palestinian statehood.
—Elliott Abrams, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
Noun
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Separately on Friday, Canada's government announced sanctions against eight senior officials in Venezuela's government, citing human rights violations and undermining democracy.—
Vivian Sequera,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
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The United States must not hesitate in ensuring that a democracy, Ukraine, does not succumb to an antidemocratic, autocratic, dictatorial and villainous Russia.—
Askold Haywas,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The chance that American attacks on Houthis could prompt attacks on Saudi Arabia and a renewal of the kingdom’s brutal war in Yemen was a chief concern of the Biden administration, a prime reason that White House operated with a degree of restraint in its strikes on Houthi targets.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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Sullivan, 56, was charged with first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Their expertise and training usually have their roots in Western, individualistic contexts, steeping them in ideals such as autonomy, empowerment, egalitarianism, and authenticity.—
David Livermore,
Harvard Business Review,
9 Apr. 2025
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These situations provide excellent opportunities for the other to have complete autonomy over the decisions.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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They were met by thousands of U.S. protesters, and a symbolic call for sovereignty turned into a bloody clash, sparking yearslong discussions about how Panama could take over the canal.—
Whitney Eulich,
Christian Science Monitor,
8 Apr. 2025
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China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea and has accused the Philippines—a U.S. treaty ally—of acting as a proxy in American efforts to contain its influence.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That independence gives them the freedom to move fast, speak honestly, and take creative risks that traditional retailers might avoid.—
Catherine Erdly,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage.—
David Betancourt,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Promoting public understanding of the principles of our freedoms is a critical component in the civic education of the citizens of the United States, Florida and each community.—
Lonnie Groot,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Apr. 2025
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The tariff announcement was the latest and perhaps boldest manifestation of Trump’s second-term freedom to lead with his instincts after feeling his first turn in the Oval Office was restrained by aides who did not share his worldview.—
Steve Peoples,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-government.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-government. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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