Meaning & use
self-mastery
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Meanings
noununcountable
The ability to control your own feelings, desires, and actions, especially in difficult situations.
Grammar: Uncountable; used without 'a' or a plural: 'a sense of self-mastery'.
Patterns
- self-mastery over something
- achieve self-mastery
- a sense of self-mastery
Meditation helped him develop self-mastery over his anger.
She showed remarkable self-mastery by staying calm during the crisis.
The book teaches techniques for achieving self-mastery.
noununcountable
Complete control over one's own life or destiny.
Grammar: Uncountable; often used with 'complete' or 'total'.
Patterns
- complete self-mastery
- total self-mastery
- self-mastery of one's life
He sought complete self-mastery over his future.
Her goal was total self-mastery, free from outside influence.
They believe self-mastery is the key to happiness.
Common combinations
- achieve self-mastery
- It takes years to achieve self-mastery.
- self-mastery over emotions
- He practiced self-mastery over his emotions.
- complete self-mastery
- She had complete self-mastery of her craft.
- develop self-mastery
- Yoga helps you develop self-mastery.
Synonyms and how they differ
- self-control
- Self-control is the everyday word for restraining your impulses; self-mastery is broader and suggests mastering your whole self.
- discipline
- Discipline is the ability to make yourself work or behave in a controlled way; self-mastery is more about inner mastery.
- willpower
- Willpower is the strength to resist temptation; self-mastery includes but is not limited to willpower.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: self-mastery or self-control?
self-mastery vs self-control
Self-control is about restraining impulses in the moment; self-mastery is a broader, more philosophical term for mastering your whole character.
Practice
Through years of practice, she gained ______ over her fears and desires.
Choose one answer.
'Self-mastery' is the uncountable noun that fits after 'gained'; the other options are verb forms or adjectives and cannot be the object of 'gained'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “self-mastery”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.