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
3

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 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 Maintaining and strengthening public broadcasting preserves media diversity and advances important principles of self-government. Stephanie A, The Conversation, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
Noun
  • If companies from industrialized democracies end up buying Chinese credits to meet their own compliance obligations, Beijing will not only dominate the hardware of the energy transition but also help govern its financial infrastructure.
    Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In other democracies, such inability to drive through legislation would most likely be met by a confidence vote, perhaps the ousting of the head of the party of government and a general election.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On multiple occasions, Johnson has pointed the blame at those who flee police and credited officers with showing restraint in pursuits.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Those charges include four counts each of counterfeiting−delivery/possession of property and knowingly selling counterfeit, nonfunctional or noncompliant supplemental restraint systems.
    Christina Hall, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Nomad aircraft will use Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy technology.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The finalists for Poetry are Gabrielle Calvocoressi's The New Economy, which explores childhood, loss and body autonomy; Cathy Linh Che's Becoming Ghost, a chronicle of the author's unique relationship with her Vietnamese identity.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The filing argues that the deployment violates local sovereignty and constitutional limits on the use of military force in domestic law enforcement.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The Patriots are united by anti-migrant rhetoric, a critical stance toward EU policies tackling climate change, and the protection of national sovereignty.
    Karel Janicek, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Athletic maintains full editorial independence.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Writing in conjunction with Anil Kashyap, a University of Chicago professor and adviser to the Chicago Fed, Griffin, the CEO of Citadel, said undermining the independence of the central bank could eventually stoke higher inflation and much higher long-term rates.
    Nick Thomas, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The event, launched in 1982, celebrates the freedom to read and express ideas and emphasizes the importance of fighting censorship.
    Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
  • But in the small areas of freedom McAvoy allows himself outside the main thrust of the familiar rags-to-riches-to-regret arc there are sharp little digressions and darker shadowy corners that suggest there’s more to the film, and to McAvoy as a filmmaker, than initially meets the eye.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-government.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-government. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on self-government

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!