self-determination

noun

ˌself-di-ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce self-determination (audio)
Definition of self-determinationnext
1
as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions the United States officially recognizes 18 as the age at which someone is entitled to self-determination

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another rebels fighting for the territory's self-determination

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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-determination The true fight is for self-determination and restitution; anything less is unacceptable. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026 While wide hips were considered a problem area not so long ago, designers are now erecting a sort of fashion monument to them—as a symbol of sensuality, strength, and self-determination. — Kelly Niesen, Glamour, 24 July 2026 Produced as a Hong Kong-US collaboration, the film explores identity, family, cultural displacement, and the difficult choices faced by those navigating between tradition and self-determination. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 23 July 2026 The Constitution’s architects, despite notoriously excluding many Americans from the political community, wished those who were granted the right of self-determination to be able to do so on an equal basis. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-determination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-determination
  1. choice
  2. autonomy
  3. sovereignty
  4. independence
  5. freedom
Noun
  • The Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, known as Eiren, announced the choice Wednesday.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Then again, the Fantasy 5 evening draw — 9, 11, 20, 32, 35 — also turned out to be a popular choice.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of choice
Noun
  • Bareilles is mourning a few things — the deaths of close friends, dreams of easy fertility, assumptions of female autonomy, the American dream — but the music soars, more often than not.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Historically, the United States has sent mixed messages to Europeans, encouraging them to step up but then scolding them for seeking autonomy.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of autonomy
Noun
  • San Manuel Nation, a partner of the Dodgers for more than a decade, is actively fighting against prediction markets, believing their availability in California violates tribal sovereignty.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • That lofty rhetoric will now meet reality, demonstrating how much economic pain a nation is willing to face to secure its political sovereignty.
    — Sara Miller Llana, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of sovereignty
Noun
  • The program uses culinary education to build confidence, independence, creativity and life skills while introducing students to potential careers in the culinary arts.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Reiterating its 2019 call for Kavala’s release, the court declared his life-without-parole conviction null and void and found multiple violations of fundamental rights and judicial independence guarantees.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of independence
Noun
  • In fact, the Book of Exodus is his jam here, focusing on Moses (Christian Bale), his close connection to Egyptian pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton) and Moses' effort to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to freedom.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The International Press Institute, a nonprofit that aims to protect media freedom, recorded 26 incidents of attacks and threats in the five months to March.
    — Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of freedom

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self-destructs
self-determination
self-determining
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Cite this Entry

“Self-determination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-determination. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on self-determination

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about self-determination

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