1
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
toddlers have very little self-control
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discipline
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
she could be passionate and intense, but generally exercised steely self-control in the company of strangers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-control
Capricorn December 22 – January 19 Excellence is attainable with a great team (and a little self-control).
—
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Toddlers are all impulse, no self-control or patience, and in need of instant gratification.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 7 Feb. 2026
Trump, though, lacks both the self-control required to move slowly and the connection to reality required to understand what is and isn’t popular outside his most committed base.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Mars in Capricorn reminds us that real strength comes from consistency and self-control.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Toddlers are all impulse, no self-control or patience, and in need of instant gratification.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 7 Feb. 2026
Trump, though, lacks both the self-control required to move slowly and the connection to reality required to understand what is and isn’t popular outside his most committed base.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Mars in Capricorn reminds us that real strength comes from consistency and self-control.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-control
Noun
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Maryland’s budget process is designed to promote transparency and fiscal restraint.—
J.B. Jennings,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Feb. 2026
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The verdict signals that prolonged prone restraint during mental health crises is dangerous, potentially changing how juvenile detention centers handle distressed teens.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As the discipline grew in popularity, Warren’s students began to take home trophies from tournaments across the country and internationally.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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The Winter Olympics are in full swing in Italy, and athletes from 93 countries are competing in 16 disciplines across eight sports.—
Julianna Duennes Russ,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Lepley studies how muscles of the upper leg shut down after a knee injury — a process called muscle inhibition.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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In the brain scans of other extreme athletes and adrenaline junkies, Amen said there’s often lower baseline activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in fear inhibition, impulse control and risk evaluation.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Both of these groups included dissidents, victims of the ever-tightening repression.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
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Students founded the Otpor movement in Serbia in 1998 to resist the regime’s repression of universities.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-control.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-control. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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