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
Already, 23 states have passed resolutions in support of the For Our Freedom Amendment to restore self-government.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
In 2009, Denmark granted Greenland self-government, giving the territory control over all its affairs except foreign policy and defence.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
Greenland voted in favor of self-government in 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in 2009.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 17 Jan. 2026
Those who charge that mail ballots are not secure undermine confidence in elections, without proof, and discourage participation, erode trust, and weaken the very foundations of self-government.
—Coalition, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
In 2009, Denmark granted Greenland self-government, giving the territory control over all its affairs except foreign policy and defence.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2026
Greenland voted in favor of self-government in 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in 2009.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 17 Jan. 2026
Those who charge that mail ballots are not secure undermine confidence in elections, without proof, and discourage participation, erode trust, and weaken the very foundations of self-government.
—Coalition, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
Noun
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In Qalqilya, a city where no slates registered to participate at all, Marwan Ennabi said elections didn't reflect that Palestinian democracy was thriving or capable of changing the deteriorating conditions on the ground.—
SAM METZ,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
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Our democracy works best when voters choose their representatives — not the other way around.—
Allyson Meyers,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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With the world facing profound suffering and division, moral voices calling for peace, restraint and sanctity of human life deserve to be protected and amplified, not condemned.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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Initially, the couple was arrested on charges of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree unlawful restraint, intentional cruelty to persons, risk of injury to a minor and conspiracy to commit risk of injury to a minor.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The broader strategy envisions widespread robotic integration across grid operations, with increasing autonomy over the coming years, positioning the sector as a major testbed for large-scale, real-world AI adoption, reports Robo Horizon.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
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The album, which was built around live instrumentation, also heralds Staples’ new era as one of newfound autonomy.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That could provoke an outcry from nationalist circles, who would likely view such as move as a breach of sovereignty.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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The British had imprisoned Jindan, and Duleep was forced to give away the diamond and claims to sovereignty, Smithsonian Magazine recounts.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the king is expected to express the highest regard and friendship between the two countries on the 250th anniversary year of independence, creating what the palace called one of the greatest alliances in human history.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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The occasion was one of many events this year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence from Britain, and this one was an address from the reigning British monarch.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The standard model includes 5-degree-of-freedom robotic arms, with an optional 7-DOF upgrade for enhanced manipulation.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
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The protest damaged a Communist Party office, with some protesters throwing rocks at the building and hurling furniture into a bonfire amid chants of freedom.—
Jorge Carrasco,
NBC news,
1 May 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 3 May. 2026.
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