1
as in self-indulgent
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2
as in independent
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Recent Examples of self-directed
While other Coachella performers like Katseye and Lucky Brand collaborator Addison Rae have each carved out distinct aesthetic identities, festivalgoers are drawing less direct inspiration from performers’ styles, instead embracing a more individual and self-directed approach to dressing.
—
Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2026
But what if building a meaningful and self-directed life in the community really was possible, if people were given the right support?
—Adrienne Lapidos, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
Trade The Pool aims to help people become more financially capable and self-directed.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
The group is entirely self-directed, and participants are encouraged to bring their own tools and materials.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
This could represent displacement or self-directed behaviors, and felines might use it as a social cue to elicit attention and interaction.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
People become more self-directed, propelling their own self-awareness and taking ownership of doing what’s right.
—Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
On Mondays, those students will have schoolwork to complete, but that work will be self-directed.
—Cameron Knight, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2023
The video, which Swift wrote and self-directed, features a two-minute comedy sketch about her own funeral.
—Stephanie Kaloi, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2023
Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2026
But what if building a meaningful and self-directed life in the community really was possible, if people were given the right support?
—Adrienne Lapidos, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
Trade The Pool aims to help people become more financially capable and self-directed.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
The group is entirely self-directed, and participants are encouraged to bring their own tools and materials.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
This could represent displacement or self-directed behaviors, and felines might use it as a social cue to elicit attention and interaction.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
People become more self-directed, propelling their own self-awareness and taking ownership of doing what’s right.
—Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
On Mondays, those students will have schoolwork to complete, but that work will be self-directed.
—Cameron Knight, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2023
The video, which Swift wrote and self-directed, features a two-minute comedy sketch about her own funeral.
—Stephanie Kaloi, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-directed
Adjective
-
Many other traditionalists have made a version of Scruton’s critique, insisting that contemporary art reflects self-indulgent, relativistic, and impious tendencies.—
Luis Parrales,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
At this point, Iran is looking less like a rival to the average Westerner, and more like an ally of the America First anti-globalist movement, successfully dismantling the illusion that exorbitant and self-indulgent Western foreign policy serves anything more than outdated narratives.—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Take control of your money with CNBC Select CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
3 May 2026
-
And as independent fishermen, that's very difficult.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lilacs are relatively self-sufficient yet require some care and attention to maintain their vigor.—
Emily Leahy,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
The vehicle aims to promote the local production of critical goods and make the country more self-sufficient.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
One is inner-directed, determined to build self-esteem.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
There is no vaccine or specific antiviral medicine for hantavirus.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
The label belongs to a specific time and place, one tied to an age when a popular newspaper column could spawn a multimedia franchise.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Avoid Burying Praise in Negatives To avoid making children too conceited, parents might bury praise in the midst of negatives.—
Wayne Parker,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The Pitt definitely feels like the type of workplace where conceited doctors-in-training are pretty much guaranteed to quickly get knocked down a peg.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
She’s been warning us since 1818 that vainglorious innovators will destroy the earth.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Melodramatic and vainglorious, moody and capricious, a fidgety, neurotic hypochondriac, Stalin was a bundle of appalling contradictions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Eastland family pushed back on the idea their father was complacent about floods.—
Ashley Killough,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Ayton said Redick has emphasized not getting complacent, and James, who has been down this road now for the 19th time, has stressed that there’s no room to get comfortable.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-directed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-directed. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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