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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-determination
The five territories are among 17 regions across the world the United Nations says should be granted self-determination or independence.
—
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026
But the broader issue is self-determination.
—Tiffany Caban, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
There needs to be self-determination and there needs to be a pluralistic government that includes a lot of different kinds of Iranians.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Led by officers weary of Portugal’s colonial wars, which had begun in the early 1960s, the revolution favored negotiating autonomy with Portuguese colonies and affirmed their right to self-determination.
—Agathe Demarolle, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026
But the broader issue is self-determination.
—Tiffany Caban, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
There needs to be self-determination and there needs to be a pluralistic government that includes a lot of different kinds of Iranians.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Led by officers weary of Portugal’s colonial wars, which had begun in the early 1960s, the revolution favored negotiating autonomy with Portuguese colonies and affirmed their right to self-determination.
—Agathe Demarolle, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-determination
Noun
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The curatorial choices are less about building an experience around some grand concept or documenting an important moment in art history, and more about showing off what is in the storeroom, or in this case, the closets.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
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Ground your choices in self-respect.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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However, this private autonomy technically leaves SpaceX’s services available to the highest bidder — which one day could include clients whose objectives conflict with America’s own.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Apr. 2026
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Less than a year after the end of Hulu’s Emmy-winning adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale, Canadian author Margaret Atwood’s sequel novel, The Testaments, has been reimagined into another eerily timely TV series — this time centered around young women fighting for their own autonomy.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Dispensaries on tribal land were the first to open because of their sovereignty and ability to make their own rules.—
Frankie McLister,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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When the deal to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which claims sovereignty over the Indian Ocean territory, was first announced it was fully supported by the US.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage.—
Larry Holder,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Since then, al-Sharaa, a former leader of al-Qaida’s branch in Syria, has improved relations with Western countries and last year became the first Syrian head of state to visit Washington since Syria’s independence in 1946.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Hungarians of all backgrounds turned up to assert their freedom to assemble.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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Now, with the burden of history lifted and the demons of past Masters Sundays exorcised, McIlroy exudes a freedom his past steps around this place did not enjoy.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-determination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-determination. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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