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self-made
adjective
: made such by one's own actions
especially
: having achieved success or prominence by one's own efforts
a self-made man
Examples of self-made in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Besides wealth, Forbes also ranked each member based on their lifetime charitable giving and the degree to which their fortunes are self-made or inherited.
—Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 11 Dec. 2024
Three-quarters of these 431 women inherited part of their fortunes, while the remaining billionaires are self-made.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2024
Now, Wiley, who is self-made, has everything to lose.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Smart, successful, and self-made, Bozoma is unafraid to speak her mind.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Roughly 67% of The Forbes 400 are self-made, including all four of the Black members.
—Jabari Young, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Against a backdrop of muted domestic malaise and sinister forces that are mostly unseen, Davis and kid star Wiseman (acting way beyond his years) expertly navigate Amelia and Samuel’s very personal hell — a painful prison that’s not self-made but fortified by its captives’ denial.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024
My parents are both self-made and highly aware of finances and money.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 12 Feb. 2024
Trone has been clear that his fortune is self-made, pointing to humble beginnings on a farm.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 14 May 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1555, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Self-made.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-made. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
self-made
adjectiveˈself-ˈmād
1
: made by one's own actions
2
: raised from poverty by one's own efforts
a self-made person
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