1
as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions
the United States officially recognizes 18 as the age at which someone is entitled to self-determination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another
rebels fighting for the territory's self-determination
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-determination
But the broader issue is self-determination.
—
Tiffany Caban, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
There needs to be self-determination and there needs to be a pluralistic government that includes a lot of different kinds of Iranians.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
But in order to achieve that, Iran needs not a new dictatorship but self-determination and a pluralist government that respects basic rights.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026
And top-down impositions could also be painted as less democratic, because the state essentially rejects the self-determination of local communities to oppose new developments.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Tiffany Caban, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
There needs to be self-determination and there needs to be a pluralistic government that includes a lot of different kinds of Iranians.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
But in order to achieve that, Iran needs not a new dictatorship but self-determination and a pluralist government that respects basic rights.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026
And top-down impositions could also be painted as less democratic, because the state essentially rejects the self-determination of local communities to oppose new developments.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-determination
Noun
-
Make choices that satisfy your soul.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The choice of Walsh over Baylor Scheierman — who started for Brown on Friday and has been above Walsh on the depth chart for the last two-plus months — was notable, as the former had not started a game since New Year’s Day.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As Fortune reported in January, many workers whose productivity has genuinely improved with AI still describe a quiet sense of loss—of craft, of autonomy, of the slower rhythms that once defined skilled work.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
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Too, though the Basque Country is today is fully integrated into Spain, while retaining a great deal of autonomy, as well as its unique language and culture, the region’s relationship with the Iberian nation is shadowed by its history as the home of terrorist organization ETA.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tehran rejected the list and presented a five-point proposal that included reparations and recognition of its sovereignty over the waterway.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Iran rejected the offer and presented its own five-point proposal that included reparations and recognition of its sovereignty over the waterway.—
Farnoush Amiri,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Elder law experts warn that the best protection against uncertainty, exploitation or government infringement of your independence is to plan ahead, early and often.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Her journey takes her to the soirées of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love and reinvention.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As gangs continue to expand and consolidate territorial control, journalists remain in growing danger, according to the commission and other press freedom groups.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
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That sense of freedom—of the gaze, of emotion, and of expression—is part of what made Farrokhzad the Iranian New Wave’s confrontational exemplar.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-determination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-determination. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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