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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Within days, over 300 soup kitchens run by Emergency Response Rooms, a network of democracy activists turned volunteer aid workers, were forced to close.—
Declan Walsh,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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The stage of democracy Artists and arts organizations have a long legacy of persistence and strategic organizing during periods of political and economic upheaval.—
Johanna K. Taylor,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 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 figures — who often come from photographs Sherald has taken or appropriated — look back at us, claiming our attention and their own autonomy.—
Jerry Saltz,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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The manager leads on a wide range of complex duties requiring a high degree of independence and discretionary judgment.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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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
Noun
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In question was whether Bob Jones' discriminatory policy was protected by its right to religious freedom, because the school claimed the Bible prohibited race-mixing.—
Jonaki Mehta,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
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According to legend, when the Spanish invaded, some Muisca chose to leap from the waterfall rather than surrender, believing they would be transformed into condors, soaring to freedom.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-government.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-government. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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