1
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
toddlers have very little self-control
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discipline
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
she could be passionate and intense, but generally exercised steely self-control in the company of strangers
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-control
At age 2, children may have frequent tantrums that parents will have to mediate for them–responding with self-control and support instead of frustration and an outburst of their own.
—
Taylor Grothe, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
The fasting and abstinence are to practice self-control and come from the original penitence practice of the observation.
—Matthew Kayser, Ascend Agency, 26 Feb. 2026
Bill Clinton lost his before birth, and then grew up with an alcoholic stepfather who loved him but lacked self-control.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
The horse retains its strength, now safeguarded by self-control.
—Timothy J. Pawl, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Taylor Grothe, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
The fasting and abstinence are to practice self-control and come from the original penitence practice of the observation.
—Matthew Kayser, Ascend Agency, 26 Feb. 2026
Bill Clinton lost his before birth, and then grew up with an alcoholic stepfather who loved him but lacked self-control.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
The horse retains its strength, now safeguarded by self-control.
—Timothy J. Pawl, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-control
Noun
-
Hegseth came out of his own service, in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the seeming conviction that what had stood in the way of a fuller victory in those wars had been the restraints supposedly placed on how soldiers could kill.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In a culture that rewards fast takes, that kind of restraint is rare.—
Sonia Singh,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These early routines introduced him to the discipline and rhythms of business.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Oftentimes, it is seen as some sort of precious art form, maybe something in the realm of ballet that requires real discipline.—
Emma Forgione,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each spring, otherwise reasonable home cooks lose all inhibitions at the first sight of ramps at the farmers market.—
Kelly Vaughan,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
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Metallica plays on the stereo while Garcia and Huerta operate like two rock stars with no inhibitions in the kitchen.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Haghighi has taken a stand against censorship and repression not only in his movies but also by personal example.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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The breach comes not long after the Justice Department earlier this month seized four domains connected to the Handala group, as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt hacking and transnational repression schemes conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-control.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-control. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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