1
as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions
the United States officially recognizes 18 as the age at which someone is entitled to self-determination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another
rebels fighting for the territory's self-determination
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-determination
Life is about self-determination, authenticity, and maximizing one’s own potential.
—
Shane Enete, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
The Excellent Workplace rating evaluates organizations across 14 categories that reflect the full employee lifecycle and draw on self-determination theory, focusing on human motivation.
—Time Staff, Time, 26 Aug. 2025
The granular cartographic details are beyond the scope of this column, but the general guiding principle should be self-determination and peace over strife and proxy war.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
When did Zionism—the movement for Jewish self-determination in the Jewish ancestral homeland of Israel—come to be mischaracterized as inherently racist or anti-Palestinian?
—Daniel Balva, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Shane Enete, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
The Excellent Workplace rating evaluates organizations across 14 categories that reflect the full employee lifecycle and draw on self-determination theory, focusing on human motivation.
—Time Staff, Time, 26 Aug. 2025
The granular cartographic details are beyond the scope of this column, but the general guiding principle should be self-determination and peace over strife and proxy war.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
When did Zionism—the movement for Jewish self-determination in the Jewish ancestral homeland of Israel—come to be mischaracterized as inherently racist or anti-Palestinian?
—Daniel Balva, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-determination
Noun
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This grew far beyond the typical choice routes coming out of the backfield.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Red twig dogwood Red twig dogwood is another great choice.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For independent, rural hospitals, the networks are an alternative to shutting down or reducing services, or to giving up local autonomy and joining a large hospital system.—
Arielle Zionts,
NPR,
2 Sep. 2025
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Witches were no longer solely perceived as agents of Satan, but cool girls and women who had agency and autonomy over their lives.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Time,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Backing down would undermine his narrative of defending national sovereignty and cost him political capital, particularly within the progressive and nationalist constituencies that form his core base.—
HUSSEIN KALOUT,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Sep. 2025
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Citizens in Kyiv and Lviv gathered to pay tribute to Parubiy, honoring his dedication to Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Athletic maintains full editorial independence.—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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Despite the change, the country remains home to the longest-running civil war in the world since gaining its independence from the United Kingdom in 1948.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The true American idea has always been fueled by hope, by optimism, by inclusion, by freedom.—
John Hope Bryant,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
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The Texas measles outbreak served as a warning shot in the new vaccine wars, pitting different parts of the country against each other, with a focus on maximizing individual freedoms versus the common good.—
Judy Stone,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-determination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-determination. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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