Synonyms of self-governing

self-governing

adjective

ˌself-ˈgə-vər-niŋ 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• independent
• autonomous
• sovereign
• separate
• self-governed
• democratic
• freestanding
• self-ruling
• free
• liberated
• empowered
• freeborn
• emancipated
• released
• redeemed
• freed
• republican
• manumitted
• delivered
• unsupervised
• unconquered
• enfranchised
• unruled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dependent
• subject
• unfree
• nonautonomous
• non-self-governing
• subjugated
• bound
• conquered
• captive
• enslaved
• subdued
• subordinate
• fettered
• subservient
• inferior

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• democratic
• republican
• self-ruling
• popular
• representative
• libertarian
• nontotalitarian

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undemocratic
• autocratic
• nondemocratic
• tyrannical
• monarchical
• despotic
• dictatorial
• monarchal

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of self-governing

China claims the democratic self-governing island as its own, and Xi has not ruled out using force to take it. — David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026

These comments came after recent talks between Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about American support for the self-governing island. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026

When those three things come together, patient safety stops being a values statement and becomes a self-governing system. — Joe Kiani, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026

The collection of 18 islands between Scotland and Iceland is a self-governing region of Denmark, and the 54,000 people who live there have their own language, parliament, and culture distinct from the Danes. — Callie Radke Stevens, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2025