1
as in democratic
of, relating to, or favoring political democracy
having rid itself of the yoke of colonialism, the new nation chose to be a self-ruling state
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another
was granted special status as a self-ruling province
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Recent Examples of self-ruling
In recent years, Beijing has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan – a self-ruling democracy the Chinese Communist Party claims as its own despite having never governed it.
—
Eric Cheung, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023
In a meeting earlier with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Raisi expressed support for China's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and claim to self-ruling democratic Taiwan.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2023
Eric Cheung, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023
In a meeting earlier with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Raisi expressed support for China's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and claim to self-ruling democratic Taiwan.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-ruling
Adjective
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Even democratic leaders have joined the chorus of those turning inward.—
Jennifer Lotito,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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Basic concepts of equality, dignity and the right to vote are at the core of the American democratic experience.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As recently as last spring, polls showed that almost half the population of Catalonia would choose to be independent from the rest of Spain.—
Coke Bartrina,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2025
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Latta and an independent group of tree care professionals who have canvassed Altadena for weeks believe that many of the trees are wrongly tagged for removal.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Trump's ambitions aren't far-fetched, according to an international relations expert who told ABC News that there are some avenues in which the U.S. could realistically acquire the autonomous Danish territory.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2025
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Among the company’s strengths is the potential to actually benefit from the rise of autonomous vehicles, Cramer said, instead of losing out, as some investors have feared.—
Julie Coleman,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That agreement recognizes the Pacific archipelago as a sovereign nation that conducts its own foreign policy but gives the U.S. control over defense and security.—
Danica Kirka,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2025
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This imperils not only American democracy but also other democratic sovereign nations.—
Mark A. Cohen,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, the judge gave weight to testimony from his family that a separate gang called Barrio 18 in El Salvador had threatened Abrego Garcia with death because his family would not pay the gang protection money.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
18 Apr. 2025
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The gym murder case in the episode is very much separate from everything else going on with Olympia and Matty’s story.—
Jim Halterman,
Variety,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-ruling. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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