as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another
despite pessimistic predictions, self-governance has worked out well for the former colony
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-governance
The law, which gives D.C. residents a greater degree of self-governance but retains Congress’s constitutional authority over the city, only enabled Trump to federalize the D.C. police for up to 30 days.
—
Connor Greene, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Tibetans, initially resistant to the transfer of the community’s political mandate from pontiff to public, slowly but steadily embraced this experiment in democratic self-governance.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Trump’s show of force is an imposition on a citizenry already aware that its democratic self-governance is tenuous.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025
Trump has repeatedly threatened to strip the district’s government of its home rule, which allows the federal district to maintain limited self-governance.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-governance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-governance
Noun
-
It is built for continuous operation, with a 4-hour battery and hot-swappable autonomy.—
-
In the aftermath, Venezuelan society became further split between the wealthy, who wanted to work with the US, and the working class, who sought autonomy from the US.—
Noun
-
The new agreement says that Ukraine’s sovereignty and its ability to defend itself are non-negotiable elements of any peace deal and warned that its self-defense is essential to its own security and wider Euro-Atlantic stability.—
-
Fundamentally, sending in our own military to make the arrest on foreign soil without the consent of the other country would still violate international law and the sovereignty of Venezuela.—
Noun
-
Accessibility Nimmo Bay welcomes wheelchair users and guests with limited mobility—cabins and public spaces are accessible with staff support—but full independence can be challenging given the remote setting's rustic boardwalks, floating docks, and uneven natural terrain.—
-
Trump’s quips about acquiring the island have ignited international concerns about Greenland’s independence and sovereignty from lawmakers in Washington and NATO allies alike.—
Noun
-
Authorities have not said whether the incident constitutes a hate crime, but Jackson Mayor John Horhn framed it as an attack on the Jewish faith and religious freedom.—
-
But those hoping for a decisive intervention that tips the balance toward freedom will be disappointed.—
Cite this Entry
“Self-governance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-governance. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share