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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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
Legislation in 2009 that extended self-government to Greenland also recognized a right to independence under international law, an option favored by a majority of Greenlanders.
—
Stefanie Dazio, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
While Nuuk exercises extensive self-government over the vast, mostly frozen island, Denmark controls its foreign and defense policy.
—Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
Mayoral powers are limited, but Mamdani can use his popularity to protect New York City’s capacity for self-government from outside interference, while cooperating strategically with the state when necessary.
—Nicole West Bassoff, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
For them, local self-government has become a fortress, and the drawbridge is up.
—JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Stefanie Dazio, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
While Nuuk exercises extensive self-government over the vast, mostly frozen island, Denmark controls its foreign and defense policy.
—Didi Kirsten Tatlow, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
Mayoral powers are limited, but Mamdani can use his popularity to protect New York City’s capacity for self-government from outside interference, while cooperating strategically with the state when necessary.
—Nicole West Bassoff, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
For them, local self-government has become a fortress, and the drawbridge is up.
—JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-government
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-government
Noun
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Emmanuel Macron equated territorial sovereignty with the rights of the French to police their own misinformation and democracy.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Focus on our rearmaments, on the support for Ukraine, and the threat that Russia poses to all of our democracies.—
Azhar Sukri,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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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Such steps would enhance the autonomy and productive capacity of Cuba’s private sector, including farm cooperatives, many of which have the title to their land.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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One pressing issue is the need to protect and expand reproductive autonomy while also addressing the full continuum of Black women’s health.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Emmanuel Macron equated territorial sovereignty with the rights of the French to police their own misinformation and democracy.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
And the loss of our supply chain sovereignty was not a function of a prosperous and healthy system of global trade.—
Azhar Sukri,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Experts recommend a mix of technology and regular check-ins to balance safety and independence for elderly relatives.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
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Accusations of politicization at DOJ For decades, the Justice Department has enjoyed a degree of independence from the White House, particularly in investigations and prosecutions, to insulate them from partisan politics.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Çatak’s anti-state message acquires an ambiguous power as the movie wends onward, with an enigmatic final shot that finds Aziz tasting clear-skies freedom but still from behind confines of a sort.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
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But, after serving more than 30 years of a natural life sentence, Modrowski won back his freedom in summer 2024 when a judge ruled he had been too harshly punished and resentenced him to a 60-year term.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 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 16 Feb. 2026.
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