self-control
noun
self-con·trol
ˌself-kən-ˈtrōl 
: restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires
Examples of self-control in a Sentence
toddlers have very little self-control
she could be passionate and intense, but generally exercised steely self-control in the company of strangers
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump, though, lacks both the self-control required to move slowly and the connection to reality required to understand what is and isn’t popular outside his most committed base.
—
Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Mars in Capricorn reminds us that real strength comes from consistency and self-control.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Focusing on connection, basic needs, and follow-through helps build trust and teaches kids self-control over time.
—Leslie Garisto Pfaff, Parents, 20 Dec. 2025
Together, these findings indicate that obesity follows predictable social and economic patterns, rather than arising primarily from individual failures of self-control.
—Time, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-control
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Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Mars in Capricorn reminds us that real strength comes from consistency and self-control.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Focusing on connection, basic needs, and follow-through helps build trust and teaches kids self-control over time.
—Leslie Garisto Pfaff, Parents, 20 Dec. 2025
Together, these findings indicate that obesity follows predictable social and economic patterns, rather than arising primarily from individual failures of self-control.
—Time, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Cite this Entry
“Self-control.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-control. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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