self-regulating

1 of 2

adjective

self-reg·​u·​lat·​ing ˌself-ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tiŋ How to pronounce self-regulating (audio)
also -ˈrā-
Synonyms of self-regulatingnext
: regulating oneself or itself
a self-regulating industry/economy
Could it be, he wondered, that the entire planet is an incredibly complex, self-regulating system designed for supporting life?—James Delingpole
As part of the study, caregivers completed assessments about their children's self-regulating behaviors at 9 months old and 2 years old.—Joan Raymond
especially : automatic
a self-regulating mechanism

self-regulating

2 of 2

present participle of self-regulate

Synonyms of self-regulating

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Adjective

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Examples of self-regulating in a Sentence

Adjective a self-regulating thermostat runs the home's heating and cooling system
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Adjective
Army investigators suggested in their report that the military was capable of self-regulating, and did not need new laws. — New York Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1745, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-regulating was in 1745

Rhymes for self-regulating

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Browse Nearby Words

self-regulate
self-regulating
self-regulating currency
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Cite this Entry

“Self-regulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-regulating. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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