1
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another
she left home and became entirely self-governing and financially independent at the age of 18
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in democratic
of, relating to, or favoring political democracy
a self-governing nation that could be a role model for other countries in the region
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of self-governing
These comments came after recent talks between Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about American support for the self-governing island.
—
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Taiwan is a self-governing island that China claims as its own territory.
—Jan Camenzind Broomby, NPR, 14 May 2026
When those three things come together, patient safety stops being a values statement and becomes a self-governing system.
—Joe Kiani, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Administration officials heralded the law as liberation from the constant vulnerability of relying on chip-makers in Taiwan, a self-governing island only 100 miles off the Chinese coast that is claimed by Beijing.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2023
Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory, is under growing pressure from China, which has not ruled out using force to seize control.
—Dan De Luce, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2023
The Chinese Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it, and refuses to rule out the use of force.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023
The satirical news follows the very real law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that wrests control of the resort’s self-governing district.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2023
Disney’s self-governing status endured because the company’s unrivaled political power in Florida made its arrangement virtually untouchable.
—Ron Desantis, WSJ, 28 Feb. 2023
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Taiwan is a self-governing island that China claims as its own territory.
—Jan Camenzind Broomby, NPR, 14 May 2026
When those three things come together, patient safety stops being a values statement and becomes a self-governing system.
—Joe Kiani, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Administration officials heralded the law as liberation from the constant vulnerability of relying on chip-makers in Taiwan, a self-governing island only 100 miles off the Chinese coast that is claimed by Beijing.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2023
Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory, is under growing pressure from China, which has not ruled out using force to seize control.
—Dan De Luce, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2023
The Chinese Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it, and refuses to rule out the use of force.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023
The satirical news follows the very real law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that wrests control of the resort’s self-governing district.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2023
Disney’s self-governing status endured because the company’s unrivaled political power in Florida made its arrangement virtually untouchable.
—Ron Desantis, WSJ, 28 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-governing
Adjective
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Jeffries first looked to California, where an independent commission had drawn a map that, in 2024, gave Democrats forty-three of the state’s fifty-two congressional seats.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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By the start of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman second season in the fall of 1976, the show had expanded to 125 independent markets, now putting it in front of a potential fifty-five million households.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Former President Joe Biden's actions included blacklisting and sanctioning some spyware companies and personnel, an executive order limiting the government's use of commercial spyware and leading an international agreement with other democratic countries to counter the misuse of such tools.—
Jude Joffe-Block,
NPR,
19 May 2026
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While that’s a tension that has been expected to percolate between the billionaire class and new socialist democratic mayor, real estate sales in the city remain strong.—
Trevor Laurence Jockims,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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That sky-high multiple is based on investors’ belief in Musk’s ambition to transform Tesla into an autonomous vehicle and robotics company that also makes EVs.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
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It is built on the XPENG GX platform and engineered to L4 autonomous driving standards.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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Insurers looking to deny a claim because of war exclusions, typically must demonstrate that an attack was carried out by a sovereign government or under its direction or control.—
Contessa Brewer,Dawn Giel,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
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Even in the event of a return to prewar maritime traffic, Iran now views the strait as sovereign territory and as a primary source of strategic leverage.—
Dr. Robert Mogielnicki,
semafor.com,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-governing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-governing. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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