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
When a president wants to do a decent job — at the least, respecting democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law — the magnet produces an administration of people who respect our institutions of self-government.
—
Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2025
Citizens and leaders who cherish self-government and the rule of law should welcome the forthcoming recommendations from the ABA Task Force.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Because as our founders knew so well, human nature recoils all too often at the inconveniences and frustrations of self-government.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
Religious freedom and freedom of speech make up the engine of self-government and form a bulwark against tyranny.
—Kristen Waggoner, National Review, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2025
Citizens and leaders who cherish self-government and the rule of law should welcome the forthcoming recommendations from the ABA Task Force.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Because as our founders knew so well, human nature recoils all too often at the inconveniences and frustrations of self-government.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
Religious freedom and freedom of speech make up the engine of self-government and form a bulwark against tyranny.
—Kristen Waggoner, National Review, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
Noun
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Successive White House administrations have worked to boost strategic ties with India through technology transfers and joint military drills, working with the world’s largest democracy to counter an increasingly assertive China in the Indo-Pacific region.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
27 Aug. 2025
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Billionaires are stealing from working families, destroying our democracy, and building private armies to attack our towns and cities.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Moderates favor easing tensions with Western and regional powers, while hard-liners insist any agreement include concrete guarantees of mutual restraint.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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Those loud, colorful prints align with hip-hop’s aversion to restraint, to sameness even.—
Essence,
Essence,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Their speed and autonomy create new efficiencies but also lead to risks that legacy governance models often can’t manage.—
Ganesh Kirti,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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These insights could help leaders, educators, and clinicians design decision-making processes that respect our instinct for autonomy while still inviting valuable outside perspectives.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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While Washington threatens, Venezuela steadily advances in peace and sovereignty, demonstrating that true effectiveness against crime is achieved by respecting the independence of its peoples.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
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Protecting America’s youth and digital sovereignty cannot wait.—
Autumn Dorsey,
Boston Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Importance of Fed independence While not addressing the White House demands for lower rates specifically, Powell did note the importance of Fed independence.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
22 Aug. 2025
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American Resources Corporation has transformed the shuttered Thompson Electronics plant into a high-tech manufacturing hub tackling one of the most urgent challenges facing the United States today: rare earth independence.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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While many CIOs still want a single source, users demand the freedom to pick and choose the best services from different vendors to experiment and drive GenAI initiatives forward.—
Thomas Robinson,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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There are still rules, even within the ultimate freedom.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-government.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-government. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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