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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-government
Greenland voted in favor of self-government in 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in 2009.
—
Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 17 Jan. 2026
Those who charge that mail ballots are not secure undermine confidence in elections, without proof, and discourage participation, erode trust, and weaken the very foundations of self-government.
—Coalition, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026
Legislation in 2009 that extended self-government to Greenland also recognized a right to independence under international law, an option favored by a majority of Greenlanders.
—Stefanie Dazio, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
While Nuuk exercises extensive self-government over the vast, mostly frozen island, Denmark controls its foreign and defense policy.
—Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 17 Jan. 2026
Those who charge that mail ballots are not secure undermine confidence in elections, without proof, and discourage participation, erode trust, and weaken the very foundations of self-government.
—Coalition, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026
Legislation in 2009 that extended self-government to Greenland also recognized a right to independence under international law, an option favored by a majority of Greenlanders.
—Stefanie Dazio, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
While Nuuk exercises extensive self-government over the vast, mostly frozen island, Denmark controls its foreign and defense policy.
—Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
Noun
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Addressing a crowd of at least 100,000 on Budapest's Heroes' Square, Magyar charged Orbán's government with turning Hungarians against one another through propaganda and divisive policies, and of steering the country away from its rightful place among Western democracies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
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The same is true of Ukraine, whose democracy (with its substantial flaws) Russia could not abide as a standing alternative to its own system, and of Taiwan, which cannot threaten China, but whose flourishing demonstrates that Beijing’s system is not the only option.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Because college football players can’t unionize and bargain rules, anti-tampering and other prohibitions aren’t exempt from antitrust scrutiny and can be challenged as unreasonable restraints on trade and price-fixing schemes.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Heller notes that restraint matters too—excessive throw pillows can make a primary bedroom feel fussy.—
Jacorey Moon,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Two anonymous trans residents sued Kansas last month, arguing that the law violates state protections for personal autonomy, privacy, equality, due process and freedom of speech.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
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The long history of military AI Weapons with some degree of autonomy have been used in war for well over a century.—
Jon R. Lindsay,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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More recently, popstar Bad Bunny alluded to ideas of Puerto Rican independence and sovereignty during his Super Bowl halftime show, which garnered more than 4 billion views.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
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Iran maintains a military presence there, but its sovereignty is disputed by the UAE.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As Europe races toward energy independence, this facility could become a primary feeder for a pipeline network meant to power the continent’s heavy industry.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
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The Athletic maintains full editorial independence.—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Pentagon had accepted his compromise, Altman implied, because his safeguards were not smuggled into the contract as an arbitrary restriction of Pentagon freedom.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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Enslaved by a tyrannical regime for nearly half a century, everyday Iranians long passionately for their freedom, as the rebellion earlier this year showed.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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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 18 Mar. 2026.
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