1
as in restraint
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
a witness practicing remarkable self-command under intense questioning by several members of Congress
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in temperance
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
an aloof man of great self-command but little charm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-command
In his mind, the army was not a caste apart but an instrument of the republic – an arena in which self-command and civic virtue were tested.
—
Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-command
Noun
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The Forever Fleece Wide-leg Pants are the perfect addition to your travel wear, offering an extra roomy fit, plush fleece fabric, and unbeatable softness for all-day wear with no restraint.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
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That action demonstrates enthusiasm in the turnaround, tempered by some restraint around where the multiyear targets ultimately land.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Deviations from protocol can become focal points in criminal defense challenges, civil rights litigation and internal discipline reviews.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The exercise focused on decision-making, flight control, and airspace discipline, all under realistic conditions spanning miles of airspace and thousands of feet of altitude.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The typical composure is gone from his game.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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Ruffier was impressed by Bresson’s composure and willingness to engage.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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During the administration of former strongman Nicolás Maduro, El Helicoide became one of the most emblematic symbols of political repression in Venezuela.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
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The incentives favor repression over law.—
Binaifer Nowrojee,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the brain scans of other extreme athletes and adrenaline junkies, Amen said there’s often lower baseline activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in fear inhibition, impulse control and risk evaluation.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Narcissists sometimes get worse with age, as their remaining inhibitions fall away.—
David Brooks,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Oceanside plans to boost spending on crime suppression, e-bike enforcement and homelessness prevention this year using higher-than-expected revenue from the Measure X half-cent sales tax hike approved by voters.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
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On the streets of Tehran, the violent suppression of January’s protests is at the forefront of people’s minds.—
Frederik Pleitgen,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-command.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-command. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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