1
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another
she left home and became entirely self-governing and financially independent at the age of 18
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2
as in democratic
of, relating to, or favoring political democracy
a self-governing nation that could be a role model for other countries in the region
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Recent Examples of self-governing
Administration officials heralded the law as liberation from the constant vulnerability of relying on chip-makers in Taiwan, a self-governing island only 100 miles off the Chinese coast that is claimed by Beijing.
—
Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2023
Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory, is under growing pressure from China, which has not ruled out using force to seize control.
—Dan De Luce, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2023
The Chinese Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it, and refuses to rule out the use of force.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023
The satirical news follows the very real law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that wrests control of the resort’s self-governing district.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2023
Disney’s self-governing status endured because the company’s unrivaled political power in Florida made its arrangement virtually untouchable.
—Ron Desantis, WSJ, 28 Feb. 2023
Beijing suspended talks in August after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, the self-governing island China claims as its own.
—Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023
The creation of the self-governing district was instrumental in Disney's decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2023
The creation of the self-governing district was instrumental in Disney’s decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Feb. 2023
Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2023
Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory, is under growing pressure from China, which has not ruled out using force to seize control.
—Dan De Luce, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2023
The Chinese Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it, and refuses to rule out the use of force.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023
The satirical news follows the very real law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that wrests control of the resort’s self-governing district.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2023
Disney’s self-governing status endured because the company’s unrivaled political power in Florida made its arrangement virtually untouchable.
—Ron Desantis, WSJ, 28 Feb. 2023
Beijing suspended talks in August after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, the self-governing island China claims as its own.
—Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023
The creation of the self-governing district was instrumental in Disney's decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2023
The creation of the self-governing district was instrumental in Disney’s decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-governing
Adjective
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Senator Angus King, who is independent but caucuses with the Democrats, also voted for the Republican bill on Tuesday.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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The request Monday is to continue paying the salary for the coalition's two employees, as well as to allow the coalition to separate from Experience Fayetteville and become more independent.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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As the shutdown unfolds, Democrats appear determined to hold their ground, framing the fight not just as a budget dispute but as a broader defense of democratic norms and public services.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The same tools that can advance science can also undermine culture, education, and democratic discourse.—
Eric Markowitz,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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If all goes as planned, Charlotte could advance autonomous construction technology on Earth and the Moon.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
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Anthropic appears to be pushing further ahead of its competitors in coding assistance and autonomous task completion, positioning its models toward corporate and workplace use.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and institutional investors have a role to play in seeding this layer of the market, just as crossover funds have done in the US.—
Aman Ghei,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
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Norway’s sovereign wealth fund recently dropped several Israeli investments.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In a separate case, Pedro Juan Andres, 29, from Guatemala, was taken into custody after entering the United States without inspection.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Woolen made the Pro Bowl and finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 but has been temporarily benched in each of the last two seasons, for separate reasons (the latter due to a rule violation, according to Macdonald).—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-governing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-governing. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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