1
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
toddlers have very little self-control
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-control
Limits help develop self-control, responsibility, and decision making.
—
Jose Bolaños, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Her early death, after an illness that the father initially contrives to ignore then notices just in time to capture her desperation in a fine sketch, leaves Mimí utterly disoriented, yearning only to achieve a level of self-control and detachment that will spare him their tumultuous struggle.
—Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
People frequently think of self-control as something that requires willpower—the effort of giving up some immediate pleasure for a long-term goal.
—Francine Russo, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2026
Holding back a child can be a good option to allow children extra time to develop self-control and self-regulation skills vital for the classroom, said Stanford professor Thomas Dee, who has studied red-shirting.
—Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Jose Bolaños, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Her early death, after an illness that the father initially contrives to ignore then notices just in time to capture her desperation in a fine sketch, leaves Mimí utterly disoriented, yearning only to achieve a level of self-control and detachment that will spare him their tumultuous struggle.
—Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
People frequently think of self-control as something that requires willpower—the effort of giving up some immediate pleasure for a long-term goal.
—Francine Russo, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2026
Holding back a child can be a good option to allow children extra time to develop self-control and self-regulation skills vital for the classroom, said Stanford professor Thomas Dee, who has studied red-shirting.
—Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-control
Noun
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Told with exacting restraint yet as layered as the lacquer on an ebony Biedermeier console, this forms a loose triptych with Pawlikowski’s last two features, Ida and Cold War, both of which were set at least partly behind the Iron Curtain.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
For the Dior cruise show in Los Angeles, Peter Philips treated glow with the restraint of good lighting.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
What begins as inspiration could become something tangible when desire and discipline move together.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
Tang positioned One/Size’s commercial advantage as one of category discipline rather than breadth.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Alcohol relieves social inhibition.—
Jonathan Avery,
STAT,
11 May 2026
-
Beyondthe security gates and ID checkpoints, inhibitions loosen and time flows differently.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Instead of providing convenience, services and consumption, the regime only inflicts repression, intrusion and censorship.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
-
The goal is not denial or emotional repression.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-control.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-control. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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