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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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-government
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
Mayoral powers are limited, but Mamdani can use his popularity to protect New York City’s capacity for self-government from outside interference, while cooperating strategically with the state when necessary.
—Nicole West Bassoff, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
For them, local self-government has become a fortress, and the drawbridge is up.
—JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
Instead of a royal patriarch ruling over voiceless subjects, America would be a fraternity of virtuous (male) citizens, created equal in their potential for self-government.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
Mayoral powers are limited, but Mamdani can use his popularity to protect New York City’s capacity for self-government from outside interference, while cooperating strategically with the state when necessary.
—Nicole West Bassoff, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
For them, local self-government has become a fortress, and the drawbridge is up.
—JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
Instead of a royal patriarch ruling over voiceless subjects, America would be a fraternity of virtuous (male) citizens, created equal in their potential for self-government.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
Noun
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Threat to democracy Bishop Anthony Taylor's recent Facebook post and its coverage in Wednesday's Arkansas Gazette-Democrat greatly impressed me.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Every day augurs some new threat—to democracy, to decency.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Forever Fleece Wide-leg Pants are the perfect addition to your travel wear, offering an extra roomy fit, plush fleece fabric, and unbeatable softness for all-day wear with no restraint.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
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That action demonstrates enthusiasm in the turnaround, tempered by some restraint around where the multiyear targets ultimately land.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Legitimacy comes from collaboration with citizens, not autonomy from them.—
Annelise Riles,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
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For decades, the BLA has waged a separatist insurgency that seeks greater political autonomy and economic development in the strategically important and mineral-rich Balochistan region, where the Reko Diq mine and other copper and mineral reserves are located.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The ruling on the injunction focused on the argument by Minnesota officials that the federal government is violating the Constitution’s 10th Amendment, which limits the federal government’s powers to infringe on the sovereignty of states.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Those records were also used to aid federal assimilation efforts and chip away at tribal sovereignty, communal lands and identity.—
Graham Lee Brewer,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Geopolitical tensions, unpredictable trade policy and concerns over the independence of the Federal Reserve all supported prices.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
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The selloff also coincided with a probe into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, which perturbed global investors over the potential of a loss of Fed independence.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Freelancer, however, harkened back to the open concept introduced by Elite, giving players 48 star systems to explore and the freedom to pursue their own destiny as traders, miners, or bounty hunters.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Ordinary citizens in Minnesota have rallied in large numbers to defend constitutional freedoms.—
Binaifer Nowrojee,
Time,
30 Jan. 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 5 Feb. 2026.
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