as in identity
the set of qualities that make a person different from other people
twins making an effort to establish their separate self-identities
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Recent Examples of self-identity
The 2026 Wagner New Play Festival kicks off today at UC San Diego, with three new works by MFA plywriting candidates on topics ranging from caveman romance to self-identity to an eerie high school ritual.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Denver artist Sammy Seung-min Lee’s work has always been about her journey toward understanding self-identity — or the impossibility of that task for so many people who experience the privilege and pain of being caught between cultures.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
The law discriminates based on viewpoint, permitting expressions of acceptance and support for a client’s self-identity while forbidding expressions that attempt to change it.
—Kevin Cope, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Need examples where fan allegiance goes beyond the transactional fandom of self-identity and tradition?
—Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 4 Dec. 2025
That is so traumatizing in itself, and then it’s compiled with his abusive father and being bullied at school and being excluded from his friends and struggling with his self-identity.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
Over time, going along with what others tell you to do can lead to unhappiness and lack of self-identity.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
Transgender students pick which bathroom to use based on their self-identity when middle school students change their clothes for physical education class, Bourne said.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Seeking punishment for a pre-existing (probably Oedipal) feeling of shame and inadequacy, some of the incarcerated seek a reality that fits their self-identity.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Denver artist Sammy Seung-min Lee’s work has always been about her journey toward understanding self-identity — or the impossibility of that task for so many people who experience the privilege and pain of being caught between cultures.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
The law discriminates based on viewpoint, permitting expressions of acceptance and support for a client’s self-identity while forbidding expressions that attempt to change it.
—Kevin Cope, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Need examples where fan allegiance goes beyond the transactional fandom of self-identity and tradition?
—Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 4 Dec. 2025
That is so traumatizing in itself, and then it’s compiled with his abusive father and being bullied at school and being excluded from his friends and struggling with his self-identity.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
Over time, going along with what others tell you to do can lead to unhappiness and lack of self-identity.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
Transgender students pick which bathroom to use based on their self-identity when middle school students change their clothes for physical education class, Bourne said.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Seeking punishment for a pre-existing (probably Oedipal) feeling of shame and inadequacy, some of the incarcerated seek a reality that fits their self-identity.
—Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-identity
Noun
-
Police said the victim, whose identity was not released, was on vacation with two family members from the Unterallgäu region of Germany.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Davis allegedly tried to grab the 8-year-old girl, whose identity is yet to be publicly released, by the child's hair to pull her into a car, Fox 26 and Fresno Bee report, citing Fresno police.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Schneider gave a shout-out to his scouting staff for doing the work to uncover the type of personalities the Seahawks would be acquiring.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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The 100-year-old house has been thoughtfully reworked with whimsical interiors that balance personality and polish alongside the comforts of a modern stay.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-identity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-identity. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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