as in voluntary
done, made, or given with one's own free will
if the candidates all follow self-imposed campaign-spending limits, government oversight is unnecessary
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Recent Examples of self-imposed
Your body begins to abandon you, but remaining are your responsibilities, a lot of which are self-imposed.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Many of these restrictions are self-imposed, in coordination with the European Commission, and can be changed with sufficient political will.
—Dalibor Rohac, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
But when Laguna Beach leveled up in competition last week, the team had to overcome some challenges that were self-imposed.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025
The timeline and the stakes are all self-imposed.
—Kristen Arnett
august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
Michigan self-imposed a two-game suspension for Moore during the upcoming 2025-26 football season.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Similarly, Chestnut Carbon self-imposed a 2030 deadline to acquire and reforest 500,000 acres of natural land for its program.
—Xander Peters, Time, 30 July 2025
As Senate Republican leadership tries to settle disputes and get everybody on board, there is a lack of consensus as to when a vote will even happen - and a fast-approaching and self-imposed July 4 deadline that suggests everyone could be working this weekend.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 26 June 2025
Such is life in the era of luxury-tax penalties due to the second apron that the NBA has foolishly self-imposed on itself.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 17 June 2025
John Hopewell, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025
Many of these restrictions are self-imposed, in coordination with the European Commission, and can be changed with sufficient political will.
—Dalibor Rohac, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
But when Laguna Beach leveled up in competition last week, the team had to overcome some challenges that were self-imposed.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025
The timeline and the stakes are all self-imposed.
—Kristen Arnett
august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025
Michigan self-imposed a two-game suspension for Moore during the upcoming 2025-26 football season.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Similarly, Chestnut Carbon self-imposed a 2030 deadline to acquire and reforest 500,000 acres of natural land for its program.
—Xander Peters, Time, 30 July 2025
As Senate Republican leadership tries to settle disputes and get everybody on board, there is a lack of consensus as to when a vote will even happen - and a fast-approaching and self-imposed July 4 deadline that suggests everyone could be working this weekend.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 26 June 2025
Such is life in the era of luxury-tax penalties due to the second apron that the NBA has foolishly self-imposed on itself.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-imposed
Adjective
-
Pacific Coast Producers, based in California, issued a voluntary recall for select lots of four fruit products on September 4 due to the potential contamination.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Admission is free, but voluntary donations are appreciated.—
Molly Guthrey,
Twin Cities,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Within the past couple of years, the group has become a part of Arrowhead Kingdom, an all-volunteer national network of Chiefs fan groups.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2023
-
That’s noteworthy for a show based at a high-school auditorium in Litchfield and run by a staff that is almost entirely volunteer, including the show’s star and its producer.—
Susan Dunne,
Hartford Courant,
18 Aug. 2022
Adjective
-
Much depends on whether Arab governments are willing to take ownership of Gaza—to manage it, rebuild it, and ensure Hamas or any similar terrorist group can't rise again.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Over the past couple of years, Timbaland has positioned himself as one of the few contemporary pop figures willing to fully embrace the use of artificial intelligence in music.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-imposed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-imposed. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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