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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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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Recent Examples of self-governing
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
Beijing suspended talks in August after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, the self-governing island China claims as its own.
—Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023
The creation of the self-governing district was instrumental in Disney's decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2023
The creation of the self-governing district was instrumental in Disney’s decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Feb. 2023
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
Beijing suspended talks in August after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, the self-governing island China claims as its own.
—Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023
The creation of the self-governing district was instrumental in Disney's decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2023
The creation of the self-governing district was instrumental in Disney’s decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-governing
Adjective
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As pope, Leo serves as leader of both the Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church, and Vatican City, an independent state.—
Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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Trump and his team take an expansive view of the president’s powers, which has been met with resistance from federal judges, congressional Democrats, and independent agencies such as the GAO.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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The Americans’ victory, and, more important, the victory of democratic ideals, upended the old monarchical world order.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 June 2025
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But given the wilderness the national Democratic Party currently finds itself in, competition for California’s top job will also probably double as a referendum on the broader question of what a winning Democratic leader should sound like.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Latinum, the second-place winner, provides payment middleware enabling Model Context Protocol builders to monetize their services, allowing AI agents to manage budgets and make autonomous payments.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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What To Know In the UK, these complications have resulted in transport regulators pushing a deadline for autonomous vehicle guidelines back a year, despite industry leaders saying their cars will be road-ready before then.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Chicago Tribune Is the Vatican considered a sovereign nation?—
Russ Bynum,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
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Documents distributed by Qatari foreign agents working for Venable, for instance, talk up what Qatar views as the positive effects of investments made by its sovereign wealth fund while downplaying the Gulf nation’s links to terrorist organizations.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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The Center for Biological Diversity had filed a separate, similar lawsuit.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
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The motor vehicle offenses are separate from charges filed against the teen on May 15, when he was charged with first-degree riot, conspiracy to commit first-degree riot and first-degree reckless endangerment.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-governing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-governing. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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