He prided himself on his self-control.
Source: tatoeba (298752)
Self-control
/ˌsɛlf kənˈtɹoʊl/
Synonyms for "self-control" (212 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (43)
Noun(11 words)
self-disciplinewillpowercalmschastenesscivil calmcompose oneself calmlycontinencycontroldelayed gratificationdisciplinediscipline related term
abnegationabstinenceacceptanceaplombarrestarrestationassurancebalancecalmcalmnesscheckcomposureconfidenceconservatismconstancyconstraintcontinencecontrolcoolcooling
Show 10 more words
Adjective(2 words)
calm demeanorcontrolled energy
Strong matches (63)
Noun(9 words)
discipline yourselfemotional calmnessemotional restraintgratificationhandle calmlyinhibitionsinner balanceitalian calmamost academic discipline
dispassiondoggednessenduranceequabilityequanimityequilibriumeven temperevennessforbearanceforbearingforbearingnessfortitudefrugalitygentlenessgolden meanhappy mediumhindranceimpartialityimperturbabilityindependence
Show 27 more words
indulgenceinhibitioninjunctioninterdictjudiciousnessjuste milieujuste-milieulegal restraintlenienceleniencylenitylevel headlevel-headednesslevelheadednesslong sufferinglong-sufferancelong-sufferinglonganimitymeden aganmettlemiddle waymildnessmoderatenessmoderationmoderationismmonopolyneutrality
Adjective(5 words)
french disciplinegreat patienceinner stillnessinner strengthitalian disciplina
Verb(1 words)
maintain calm focus
Adverb(1 words)
most presidential poise
Related words (106)
nonviolencenothing in excessobduracypacifismpatiencepatience of jobpatientnessperseverancepersistencephilosophyplaciditypoisepossessionpresence of mindprohibitionprotectionprotectionismprotective tariffprudencerationing
Show 51 more words
reinrenouncementrenunciationreposereserveresolutenessresolverestraintrestraint of traderetardationretrenchmentsang-froidself-abnegationself-assuranceself-commandself-confidenceself-conquestself-denialself-disciplineself-governmentself-masteryself-possessionself-restraintserenityslowing downsobernesssobrietysophrosynestabilitysteadfastnesssteadinessstoicismsufferancesweet reasonablenesstariff walltempertemperancetemperatenessthought controltolerancetolerationtranquillityunexcessivenessunextravaganceunextremenessvia mediawaiting gamewaiting it outwell-regulated mindwillwillpower
Noun(30 words)
poise in speechpossessionpractice stoicismrefrainingrestraintsangfroidselfself governingself governmentself regulatingself regulationself restraintself ruleself-commandself-denialself-discipline at homeself-possessionself-regulationself-regulation skillsself-rule
Show 10 more words
Adjective(5 words)
poised demeanorpolite restraintromanian disciplinăstoic demeanorstrict discipline
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: self-discipline, willpower, abnegation, abstinence, acceptance.
- Sentence evidence is available for self-control, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "self-control".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "self-control"
Keep "self-control" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "self-control" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "self-control", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "self-control" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesbehavioral skillcontrolfirmnessfirmness of purposelife skillqualityresolutenessresolutionresolvetraitvirtue
More specific
5 entriesCollocations
6 entriesdevelop self-controldisplay self-controlexercise self-controlself-control skillsself-control techniquesself-control training
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
Xiaoming has really poor self-control.
Source: tatoeba (2432168)
I'm employing my self-control so as to not lose my mind.
Source: tatoeba (2699264)
He loses self-control when he's drunk.
Source: tatoeba (3703065)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "self-control"?
Closest matches include self-discipline, willpower, abnegation, abstinence, acceptance.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "self-control"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.