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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-government
Signed by the Pilgrims in Provincetown Harbor, the compact is the first document to establish self-government in the New World.
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Dan Fellner, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024
The contentious decision came at the height of Ireland’s campaign for self-government, or Home Rule.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 31 July 2024
On this day in 1952: With the establishment of its constitution, Puerto Rico attained self-government as an unincorporated commonwealth of the United States, 54 years after it was invaded by U.S. forces.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 25 July 2024
What’s more, a threat to self-government might be closer to home.
—Colbert I. King, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for self-government 
Dan Fellner, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024
The contentious decision came at the height of Ireland’s campaign for self-government, or Home Rule.
—Armani Syed, TIME, 31 July 2024
On this day in 1952: With the establishment of its constitution, Puerto Rico attained self-government as an unincorporated commonwealth of the United States, 54 years after it was invaded by U.S. forces.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 25 July 2024
What’s more, a threat to self-government might be closer to home.
—Colbert I. King, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
Noun
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Stewart has been critical of the county's election operations and, at times, toed the line of election denialism, while Navarro has strongly defended the board's handling of elections and sought to cast himself as a defender of democracy.Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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By removing those obstacles, scholars say, Trump 2.0 would test the strength and fragility of American democracy, threatening to dismantle the separation of powers that has defined U.S. governance since the nation’s founding.Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But those seeking restraint and something more clever than the usual carnage will find this talky (in a good way) creeper offers more to chew on than the genre norm.Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
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Perched on a drum riser, Carey balanced forcefulness and restraint, heaviness and subtlety, density and spaciousness.Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But as Carlin points out in his book, band members never sacrificed their creative autonomy for profit, never conceded quality control to move units.Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
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Along the campaign trail, Harris has invited a coterie of celebrity guests to speak and perform at her rallies including Beyoncé and actress and singer Kelly Rowland, who took the stage during a Houston rally to advocate for female autonomy.Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Focusing on the rights of Israelis and Palestinians, not their governments’ dueling claims to sovereignty, will push the communities toward a solution in which both can live in peace and dignity.Marwan Muasher, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2024
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Meanwhile, the diplomatic wing of the Iranian government has taken a softer approach — downplaying the harm caused by Israel’s latest attack but pushing for an international response to the violation of their sovereignty.Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
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That point drew closer still in late October, when the Umbrella for Democratic Change, Botswana’s principal opposition party alliance, defeated the abusive and corrupt incumbent Botswana Democratic Party, which had held power continuously since the country gained independence in 1966.Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
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Powell's comments are likely to be seen as a bid to maintain the Fed's long-standing independence from outside political influence, though whether such immunity actually exists in practice has sometimes been debated.Rob Wile, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Bizarre cultural norms The Democratic Party at its best stands for fairness and freedom.Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
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But amid the stories of destruction and despair, the film also promises a vision of a better world, of a future where Israelis and Palestinians, like the directors of this documentary, can work together towards justice and freedom.Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Self-government.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-government. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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