1
as in democracy
government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation
self-government implies faith in the wisdom and essential goodness of the people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
steely self-government was all that kept her from lashing out at the rude customer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another
championed self-government for the nation's indigenous peoples
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of self-government
The federal government’s deployment of military personnel to this country’s cities, all apart from being the Founders’ worst nightmare, threatens a death knell to popular self-government.
—
Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Outrage fades, the unthinkable becomes routine, and the guardrails that protect self-government quietly disappear.
—Aron Solomon
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
At smaller scales, new places have made advances in self-government.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Trump has in the past mused about a broader federal takeover of the district, although that would require Congress to repeal the Home Rule Act of 1973, which gives Washington its current measure of self-government.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Outrage fades, the unthinkable becomes routine, and the guardrails that protect self-government quietly disappear.
—Aron Solomon
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
At smaller scales, new places have made advances in self-government.
—Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Trump has in the past mused about a broader federal takeover of the district, although that would require Congress to repeal the Home Rule Act of 1973, which gives Washington its current measure of self-government.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
Noun
-
On the issues of crime and immigration, Republicans were seen as more capable, while Democrats outranked them on health care and democracy.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Venezuela’s Maria Corina Machado, who just won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for years of fighting to restore democracy to her country, and Lionel Messi.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The civil suit alleged the restraint lasted eight minutes.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Per state guidelines and Ohio Administrative Code, physical restraint must be used as a last resort and only when there is an immediate risk of physical harm to the student or others.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
While medically assisted suicide isn’t a mainstream cause of any one political party, conversations about potential legislation happen more in progressive circles and often in connection with arguments about bodily autonomy.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Justice Anthony Kennedy’s original opinion, written in 2015, emphasized ideas about individual autonomy, safeguarding children and families, and maintaining the social order.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
As South Asian publics have pushed back against governments closely aligned with New Delhi, Beijing has asserted itself, courting new regimes with loans and military hardware and stressing respect for their sovereignty.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Leader Xi Jinping has pushed to modernize the military, particularly the navy, to challenge US dominance in the South China Sea and assert sovereignty claims over Taiwan.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
As this brief survey suggests, the patriots’ success in drawing foreign partners into the war was essential to achieving American independence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The forest for the trees Nestled between China, India and Thailand, Myanmar gained independence from Britain in 1948 but came under military dictatorship in 1962.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Brazilian feature follows a 75-year-old woman whose journey through the Amazon becomes a manifesto on freedom and dignity.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
-
My mother has been denied access to medical care, the right to speak, and every basic human freedom.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This visit was very important signal for our partners that Kyiv, much more safety right now, and also very important signal that Great Britain stay together with Ukraine, support Ukraine -- support our country in the fight for our freedom, for our independency.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2022
-
Yet the careful reader will appreciate the significance of the Puritan Cromwell’s independency.—
Barton Swaim,
WSJ,
27 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Self-government.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-government. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share