SELF-REALIZATION Synonyms: 32 Similar Words

self-realization

noun

Definition of self-realization

as in self-actualization

the act of achieving the full development of your abilities and talents Work is often a means of self-realization.

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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-realization While Regina charges for her services, many say the experience is worth it, offering not just a transformation but a sense of happiness and self-realization. — Ashley James, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026 His experiment in self-realization put him in a long line of spiritual seekers, and like innumerable young persons in every generation, he was actively engaged in evolving a design for living, drawing from sources near to and farther from home. — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026 His sociopathy is the logical extension of a homicidal ethos of self-actualization, self-realization, and self-care. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026 Sincerity is the path to self-realization in Rousseau’s political philosophy, according to political science professor Arthur Melzer. — Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-realization

Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-realization

Noun

That spirit was palpable in Demna’s debut show at Gucci, where self-concept and self-actualization seemed to come alive in a way that almost laughed at itself.

— Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The adaptation stars Ella Bruccoleri as the eponymous Mary, who goes on a voyage of self-actualization in London.

— Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026

Definition of self-actualization

Noun

Firstman’s first several years in the entertainment industry have been their own journey of loopy self-discovery.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
Here, this past year, the Danish/Egyptian architect has made the Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre (founded in the early 1950s as a weaving school for children) a place of self-discovery.

— Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of self-discovery

Noun

But this is a Norman Lear comedy after all (his last before passing in late 2023) — so by the end of the first episode, the hilarious sitcom has revealed its true interest in acceptance, forgiveness, and self-fulfillment.

— Michael Cuby, Them., 17 Nov. 2025
And increasingly, women are choosing solitude and self-fulfillment over unsatisfying relationships.

— Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025

Definition of self-fulfillment

Noun

Three Fitness Villages—at Kite Beach, Zabeel Park and Al Warqa’a—act as free, all-day wellness hubs offering everything from boxing and beach volleyball to spin classes and meditation.

— Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
The private wing, meanwhile, offers two guest bedrooms and a secluded primary suite featuring a bath adorned with a playful arrangement of polished chrome, bubble-like circular wall mirrors of varying sizes, plus a meditation garden with a hot tub.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of meditation

Noun

Beyond Culture is also currently developing a namesake series — a reality-documentary hybrid that takes artists and cultural figures beyond persona and into radical self-exploration.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
In Linklater’s eyes, college symbolizes a fount of opportunity, a place where people can reinvent themselves, try on different identities, and embrace self-exploration.

— Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of self-exploration

Noun

Now, after over a century of studying introspection in humans and animals, researchers are beginning to explore the phenomenon in unlikely new subjects — large language models.

— Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026
On the other, Anthropic has argued that its AI model, Claude, has shown signs of introspection, internal states that mirror joy or satisfaction, and processing information similar to the human mind.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of introspection

Noun

The art was selected as counterpoint to the essays, another means to draw the reader into reflection and contemplation.

— Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Some walked hundreds of kilometers to establish places of worship far from the comforts of the world, spending years in prayer and contemplation before eventually being buried here.

— Avantika Chaturvedi, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of contemplation

Noun

After scoring 43 points on 17-of-25 shooting in last week’s win over Golden State, Booker was asked whether that self-reflection drove his performance.

— Doug Haller, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Later in life, Schwam created Humanity 101, an initiative of Arizona State University’s Project Humanities, promoting the values of compassion, empathy, forgiveness, integrity, kindness, respect and self-reflection.

— Pat Saperstein, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of self-reflection

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“Self-realization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-realization. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of self-realization

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