1
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
toddlers have very little self-control
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discipline
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others
she could be passionate and intense, but generally exercised steely self-control in the company of strangers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-control
France is a culture of manners, of eloquence, of graceful behavior, as if life itself, from the grandly public to the intimately domestic, were essentially performative, requiring constant self-control.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
That’s because the amygdala, a part of the brain that processes feelings, and the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for reasoning and self-control, may fall out of sync under these conditions.
—Nathalie Alonso, AFAR Media, 23 Apr. 2025
Executive function refers to critical mental processes like reaction time, recognizing emotions, memory, planning, and self-control.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2025
Crafted by a team of expert perfumers, the fragrance was shaped by global trends and shifting consumer moods, like the growing desire for self-indulgence and self-control.
—Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
That’s because the amygdala, a part of the brain that processes feelings, and the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for reasoning and self-control, may fall out of sync under these conditions.
—Nathalie Alonso, AFAR Media, 23 Apr. 2025
Executive function refers to critical mental processes like reaction time, recognizing emotions, memory, planning, and self-control.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2025
Crafted by a team of expert perfumers, the fragrance was shaped by global trends and shifting consumer moods, like the growing desire for self-indulgence and self-control.
—Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-control
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-control
Noun
-
After George Floyd was killed in 2020, many police departments across the country banned or restricted the knee-on-neck restraint.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
27 May 2025
-
Rickson stages both plays with elegant restraint, arranging just a few bits of furniture in front of a bare brick wall.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Such defensive discipline and intelligent street-smarts have meant that Inzaghi’s side have trailed for just 16 minutes across the whole Champions League campaign — just one per cent of their total time on the pitch.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
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Currently, the Academy is composed of 19 branches, each representing a specific discipline within the industry, with the newest Production and Technology Branch created in 2023, and the split of the animation feature and shorts in 2024.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Its inhibition was leveled at the thing, not the name.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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Just in time for the full moon in Libra on April 12, Luna will illuminate your 12th house of secrets, inhibitions and unconscious patterns, urging you to let go of patterns that no longer serve you.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
For Black Americans, the history of repression of education runs even deeper.—
Karida L. Brown,
Essence,
21 May 2025
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After 2012, when Putin returned to the presidency, the Kremlin began tightening its grip on Russia’s elites, embracing an archaic militarism, and widening its repression of civil society.—
ANDREI YAKOVLEV,
Foreign Affairs,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-control.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-control. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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