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
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
Caramel lovers will have a self-control conundrum over these Caramel Snickerdoodles.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
The process teaches them discipline and self-control.
—Jonathan Sanchez, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
But increasingly, studies are finding associations between heavy consumption of short-form video and challenges with focus and self-control.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Time, 19 Dec. 2025
Caramel lovers will have a self-control conundrum over these Caramel Snickerdoodles.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
The process teaches them discipline and self-control.
—Jonathan Sanchez, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
But increasingly, studies are finding associations between heavy consumption of short-form video and challenges with focus and self-control.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-control
Noun
-
Officers exercise restraint despite facing threats and attacks, according to federal officials.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
-
That restraint could be radical.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Most of those seeds require some bit of cold weather exposure or other mitigating factor to overcome the inhibition and set the stage for a more sensible spring germination.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
21 Nov. 2025
-
The key is to relax, let go of your inhibitions, and just have fun.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His government was accused of authoritarianism, repression of the opposition and electoral manipulation.—
Jhasua Razo,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Even with the regime’s curbs on communication, egregious acts of repression have led to mass outrage, first online and then in the streets.—
Nahid Siamdoust,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-control.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-control. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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