self-control

[ self-kuhn-trohl, self- ]

noun

1. control or restraint of oneself or one's actions, feelings, etc.

   Synonyms: levelheadedness, willpower, self-restraint, self-discipline

self-control

noun

1. the ability to exercise restraint or control over one's feelings, emotions, reactions, etc

Derived Forms

• ˌself-conˈtrolled, adjective
• ˌself-conˈtrolling, adjective

Other Words From

• self-con·trolled adjective
• self-con·trolling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-control¹

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

Men were taught self-control about everything from their diet to how to resist the “painted woman.”

From The Daily Beast

Experts suggest that we need to think of self-control as a “muscle”; something we can train in order to increase our willpower.

From The Daily Beast

The type of self-control needed for dieting is very different from that needed for exercising.

From The Daily Beast

Importantly, after using self-control to resist one temptation, your brain has less energy to resist the next one.

From The Daily Beast

Hence, in the long run, dieting requires the use of much more self-control than exercising.

From The Daily Beast

A certain amount of his ill-humour vented, Tressan made an effort to regain his self-control.

From Project Gutenberg

When this sudden discovery leaped out upon him, for a moment he lost his self-control.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a great fault of his, or perhaps a misfortune—for he could not help it—this want of self-control in moments of emergency.

From Project Gutenberg

She felt that the time was opportune to plant the seed of self-control within the young heart.

From Project Gutenberg

This was a fearful task for one like him, but he would strive for self-control just as one throws down a tree to bridge a torrent.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dignity
• discretion
• poise
• restraint
• reticence
• self-discipline
• sobriety
• stoicism