self-made
adjective
: made such by one's own actions
especially
: having achieved success or prominence by one's own efforts
a self-made man
Examples of self-made in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These are heirs to optometry empires and pharma conglomerates, and some are even self-made.
—
Zoya Hasan, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Besides wealth, Forbes also ranked each member based on their lifetime charitable giving and the degree to which their fortunes are self-made or inherited.
—Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 11 Dec. 2024
Three-quarters of these 431 women inherited part of their fortunes, while the remaining billionaires are self-made.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2024
Now, Wiley, who is self-made, has everything to lose.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Smart, successful, and self-made, Bozoma is unafraid to speak her mind.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Roughly 67% of The Forbes 400 are self-made, including all four of the Black members.
—Jabari Young, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Against a backdrop of muted domestic malaise and sinister forces that are mostly unseen, Davis and kid star Wiseman (acting way beyond his years) expertly navigate Amelia and Samuel’s very personal hell — a painful prison that’s not self-made but fortified by its captives’ denial.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024
My parents are both self-made and highly aware of finances and money.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 12 Feb. 2024
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.
Zoya Hasan, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Besides wealth, Forbes also ranked each member based on their lifetime charitable giving and the degree to which their fortunes are self-made or inherited.
—Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 11 Dec. 2024
Three-quarters of these 431 women inherited part of their fortunes, while the remaining billionaires are self-made.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 26 Nov. 2024
Now, Wiley, who is self-made, has everything to lose.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Smart, successful, and self-made, Bozoma is unafraid to speak her mind.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Roughly 67% of The Forbes 400 are self-made, including all four of the Black members.
—Jabari Young, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
Against a backdrop of muted domestic malaise and sinister forces that are mostly unseen, Davis and kid star Wiseman (acting way beyond his years) expertly navigate Amelia and Samuel’s very personal hell — a painful prison that’s not self-made but fortified by its captives’ denial.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024
My parents are both self-made and highly aware of finances and money.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 12 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Self-made.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-made. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share