as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
a man of extraordinary self-containment, he refused to lose his temper even in the most trying of circumstances
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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-containment
Stability starts with self-containment.
—
Usa Today,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
What sets Return apart is its perfect self-containment.
—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
And for people who equate maturity with self-containment, that can feel threatening.
—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Throughout the crisis, her burgeoning friendship with the hostage’s wife, challenges Barb’s usual sense of propriety and self-containment.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 Aug. 2025
Cregger maintains the film’s self-containment.
—
Andy Crump,
Time,
9 Aug. 2025
Usa Today,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
What sets Return apart is its perfect self-containment.
—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
And for people who equate maturity with self-containment, that can feel threatening.
—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Throughout the crisis, her burgeoning friendship with the hostage’s wife, challenges Barb’s usual sense of propriety and self-containment.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 Aug. 2025
Cregger maintains the film’s self-containment.
—
Andy Crump,
Time,
9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-containment
restraint
Noun
-
Under an existing state appropriations restraint, also known as the Gann Limit, lawmakers cannot spend more than an amount determined by a formula that takes annual tax proceeds, changes to the population and cost of living into consideration.
-
For 70 minutes, Paraguay had played with corseted restraint, frustrating France with organisation, concentration and no little gamesmanship.
Cite this Entry
“Self-containment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-containment. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
