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
Myanmar, in the midst of a crackdown by its military rulers, is sprouting new forms of local self-government.
—
Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 5 Oct. 2024
Those creedal ideals include liberty, equality, laissez-faire and limited self-government.
—Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2024
The growing reputation of the studium, which attracted scholars from across Europe, helped the village of Bologna become a commune with powers of municipal self-government.
—Bradford Vivian / Made By History, TIME, 16 Aug. 2024
Signed by the Pilgrims in Provincetown Harbor, the compact is the first document to establish self-government in the New World.
—Dan Fellner, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for self-government 
Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 5 Oct. 2024
Those creedal ideals include liberty, equality, laissez-faire and limited self-government.
—Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2024
The growing reputation of the studium, which attracted scholars from across Europe, helped the village of Bologna become a commune with powers of municipal self-government.
—Bradford Vivian / Made By History, TIME, 16 Aug. 2024
Signed by the Pilgrims in Provincetown Harbor, the compact is the first document to establish self-government in the New World.
—Dan Fellner, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
Noun
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And the ability to criticize public officials without fear of retribution is what differentiates a democracy from a dictatorship.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
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And the stakes are high, not just for world trade but also for representative government in major democracies.—
Ned Temko,
The Christian Science Monitor,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Department of Education has said in its restraint and seclusion resource document there is no evidence restraint and seclusion reduce problem behaviors.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Jan. 2025
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The tether, or rope, is a restraint tool, according to the report.—
Julia Marnin,
Sacramento Bee,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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From its inception, the anti-vaccine movement has been intertwined with a range of political, moral, and spiritual ideas around the rights of the individual versus the community, the limits of governmental power over bodily autonomy and faith in medical expertise, and institutional knowledge.—
Helen L. Murphey / Made by History,
TIME,
29 Jan. 2025
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Research highlights three tensions in particular which, if left unchecked, risk alienating employees and failing to deliver the benefits of job deconstruction: Balancing autonomy and control, balancing detachment and belonging, and balancing growth and stability.—
Philip Rogiers
David G. Collings,
Harvard Business Review,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Colombia’s action came as numerous countries in Latin America are attempting to figure out how to deal with the week-old Trump administration, pledging cooperation on some immigration issues but also seeking fair treatment and respect for their own national sovereignty.—
Tracy Wilkinson,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2025
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Still, both advisers said that the commission has the power to protect Europe’s sovereignty, and to force the platforms to be more transparent.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage.—
Tyler Holzhammer,
The Athletic,
18 Jan. 2025
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The emotional weight of losing that independence is difficult to quantify, but its impact is profound.—
John Hope Bryant,
TIME,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The petitioners, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, argued that the ruling discriminates against St. Isidore and violates constitutional protections for religious freedom, citing recent Supreme Court precedents like Carson v. Makin.—
Kaelan Deese,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
24 Jan. 2025
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Read: The GoFundMe fires In moments of tragedy or upheaval, not all Angelenos can take their freedom of mobility for granted, in part because of how Southern California infrastructure has developed over the past century.—
Hannah Giorgis,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Self-government.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-government. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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