self-control
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of self-control
First recorded in 1705–15
Compare meaning
How does self-control compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Self-control is the quality that allows you to stop yourself from doing things you want to do but that might not be in your best interest. For example, without self-control, you might burp and curse nonstop. Have you ever had a potato chip or two and pretty soon you’ve eaten the whole bag? Eating a whole bag of chips shows little self-control. Not charging an expensive thing you want to a credit card takes self-control. Getting up early for work takes self-control. Without self-control, it's hard to get far in life. Self-control is similar to self-discipline.
Vocabulary lists containing self-control
Promises to Keep
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History is made in PA: Clinton's DNC Acceptance Speech
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Loser
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Which raises the question: Why buy another gadget instead of simply exercising self-control?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
As he has aged, has increasingly appeared to lack filters or self-control.
From Salon ● May 26, 2026
Qualities like grit or self-control influenced overall performance, but they did not prevent people from having less productive days.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 15, 2026
Holding back a child can be a good option to allow children extra time to develop self-control and self-regulation skills vital for the classroom, said Stanford professor Thomas Dee, who has studied red-shirting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026
No one thought that anything could undermine her self-control, until one day she felt an itching on her back.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
