1
as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions
the United States officially recognizes 18 as the age at which someone is entitled to self-determination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another
rebels fighting for the territory's self-determination
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-determination
Israel would not annex Gaza, and long-term goals include Palestinian self-determination and eventual statehood.
—
Cameron Schoppa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Owning her anger gave her a greater sense of agency and self-determination.
—Cat Cardenas, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
Organized by Native Americans in Philanthropy, the 16-to-24-year-old participants said the inclusive process reflected Indian Country values of self-determination and intergenerational relationship-building that more donors should embrace.
—Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
The Sahrawi people continue to live in exile and in diaspora, deprived of their right to self-determination and sovereignty.
—Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Cameron Schoppa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Owning her anger gave her a greater sense of agency and self-determination.
—Cat Cardenas, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
Organized by Native Americans in Philanthropy, the 16-to-24-year-old participants said the inclusive process reflected Indian Country values of self-determination and intergenerational relationship-building that more donors should embrace.
—Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
The Sahrawi people continue to live in exile and in diaspora, deprived of their right to self-determination and sovereignty.
—Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-determination
Noun
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The best heroes are beloved because their choices — admirable, messy, or otherwise — are hard ones made in service of something greater.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
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The two were impeccably dressed as Gomez and Morticia Addams, which is a canonically Gay couple costume choice — Lakshmi, as Morticia, was holding scissors in one of the posts, for crying out loud.—
James Factora,
Them.,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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While medically assisted suicide isn’t a mainstream cause of any one political party, conversations about potential legislation happen more in progressive circles and often in connection with arguments about bodily autonomy.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
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Justice Anthony Kennedy’s original opinion, written in 2015, emphasized ideas about individual autonomy, safeguarding children and families, and maintaining the social order.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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As South Asian publics have pushed back against governments closely aligned with New Delhi, Beijing has asserted itself, courting new regimes with loans and military hardware and stressing respect for their sovereignty.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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Leader Xi Jinping has pushed to modernize the military, particularly the navy, to challenge US dominance in the South China Sea and assert sovereignty claims over Taiwan.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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As this brief survey suggests, the patriots’ success in drawing foreign partners into the war was essential to achieving American independence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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The forest for the trees Nestled between China, India and Thailand, Myanmar gained independence from Britain in 1948 but came under military dictatorship in 1962.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Brazilian feature follows a 75-year-old woman whose journey through the Amazon becomes a manifesto on freedom and dignity.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
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My mother has been denied access to medical care, the right to speak, and every basic human freedom.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-determination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-determination. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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