1
as in restraint
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
a witness practicing remarkable self-command under intense questioning by several members of Congress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in temperance
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
an aloof man of great self-command but little charm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of self-command
He was shaped in San Antonio by an environment that demanded alertness, self-command, and the ability to read the room quickly.
—
Matt Emma, USA Today, 13 May 2026
In his mind, the army was not a caste apart but an instrument of the republic – an arena in which self-command and civic virtue were tested.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Matt Emma, USA Today, 13 May 2026
In his mind, the army was not a caste apart but an instrument of the republic – an arena in which self-command and civic virtue were tested.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-command
Noun
-
In the case of these earrings, restraint was paramount.—
Jill Newman,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
-
For disabled students already navigating discrimination, bullying, and in some cases dangerous seclusion and restraint practices with fewer advocacy resources than ever, the question of who will investigate and enforce their rights just got a lot murkier.—
Keely Cat-Wells,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Technical excellence is paramount, but so is the ability to take risks, learn from your mistakes and work at the edge and intersections of disciplines to transform ideas into knowledge and action.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
-
Marie says each piece of work carries a story about childhood, discipline, survival and the complicated ways love can be expressed.—
Nia Dumas,
NPR,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
When hopelessly romantic Penny awkwardly meets dazzling musician Bianca at a supermarket, sparks fly — and so does Penny’s composure.—
Sarah Kate Ellis,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
Blashill kept his composure through such stretches.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Jafarzadeh highlighted Khabiri as a symbol of the regime’s repression of athletes, as Khabiri was a rising soccer star who became captain of Iran’s national team before being arrested and asked to appear on television to renounce his political beliefs.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
-
Other ancestors had fled aboard the Mayflower from the persecution of Puritans in England, aboard a steamship from pogroms in Ukraine, aboard a schooner from Spanish repression in Cuba.—
Yoni Appelbaum,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The little people are being menaced by a dark force—a force with power, money, and very few moral inhibitions.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
-
Shrug off inhibitions and break the ice as the moon and Uranus harmonize.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
That said, a December 2025 endocrine adaptations review flagged that fasts longer than 24 hours carry greater risk, including cortisol elevation and suppression of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026
-
But critics maintain that the use of cattle for fire suppression is unproven, and could remove forage that wildlife require both in drought and severe winters.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-command.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-command. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
