self-ruling

adjective

self-rul·​ing ˌself-ˈrü-liŋ How to pronounce self-ruling (audio)
Synonyms of self-rulingnext

Synonyms of self-ruling

Examples of self-ruling in a Sentence

having rid itself of the yoke of colonialism, the new nation chose to be a self-ruling state was granted special status as a self-ruling province
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While Guo reiterated China’s position on sensitive topics such as Taiwan – a self-ruling island democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory – his statement was otherwise cautiously neutral, lacking the vitriol that often characterizes Chinese responses to US policy. Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025 Like Assad before him, Sharaa now faces complex negotiations toward bringing these self-ruling territories under his command. Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025 The dispute began when Takaichi, who was elected last month, told lawmakers that a hypothetical Chinese attack on self-ruling Taiwan, which at its closest point is about 70 miles from Japanese territory, could threaten Japan’s survival and trigger a military response from Tokyo. Peter Guo, NBC news, 25 Nov. 2025 In recent years, Beijing has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan – a self-ruling democracy the Chinese Communist Party claims as its own despite having never governed it. Eric Cheung, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023 In a meeting earlier with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Raisi expressed support for China's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and claim to self-ruling democratic Taiwan. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-ruling was in 1645

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-ruling. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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