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English Words Starting With S

15,552 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

self-effacement
nounC1/C2
/ˌself ɪˈfeɪsmənt/The act of making oneself inconspicuous or not drawing attention to one's own qualities or achievements.
self-efficacy
nounC1
/ˌself ˈef.ɪ.kə.si/The belief in one's own ability to successfully execute specific behaviours and achieve desired outcomes in particular situations.
self-employment
nounB2
/ˌself ɪmˈplɔɪmənt/The state or condition of working for oneself as a freelance worker or business owner, rather than being employed by someone else.
self-esteem
nounMedium-High
/ˌself ɪˈstiːm/confidence in and respect for one's own worth and abilities.
self-examination
nounC1
/ˌself ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/The act of examining one's own thoughts, feelings, motives, or conscience.
self-exile
nounC1
/ˌself ˈek.saɪl/The voluntary act of leaving one's own country or place of residence, often for political, moral, or personal reasons.
self-expression
nounC1
/ˌself ɪkˈspreʃ.ən/The expression of one's own personality, feelings, or ideas, especially through an art form.
self-feed
verb-transitiveC2
/ˌself ˈfiːd/To eat food directly from its source or container without external assistance, typically used for livestock.
self-feeder
nounC1
/ˌsɛlf ˈfiːdə/A device or container that automatically supplies food, material, or resources as needed, without requiring manual intervention for each individual act of supply.
self-fertilization
nounLow
/ˌself fɜː.tɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/The fertilization of a flower by its own pollen, or an organism by its own gametes.
self-flattery
nounC2/Low Frequency
/ˌself ˈflætəri/The act of praising oneself, often to boost one's own ego or to convince oneself of positive qualities.
self-fulfilling prophecy
nounC1
/ˌself fʊlˈfɪl.ɪŋ ˈprɒf.ə.si/A prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior.
self-fulfillment
nounMedium
/ˌself fʊlˈfɪl.mənt/The act or process of fulfilling or realizing one's own potential, desires, or aspirations.
self-fulfilment
nounC1
/ˌself fʊlˈfɪl.mənt/The act of fully developing one's own abilities or achieving one's own goals, leading to personal satisfaction.
self-generation
nounMedium-low
/ˌselfˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/The process by which something creates or produces itself or its own kind without external intervention.
self-government
nounC1
/ˌself ˈɡʌvənmənt/The right or ability of a group, nation, or region to govern itself without external control.
self-gratification
nounC1
/ˌsɛlf ˌɡræt.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/The act of pleasing oneself, especially through the immediate fulfillment of a desire or impulse.
self-harm
nounverb-intransitiveC1
/ˌself ˈhɑːm/The act of deliberately injuring one's own body, typically as a way of coping with emotional distress, psychological pain, or overwhelming situations.
self-hatred
nounC1
/ˌself ˈheɪ.trɪd/Intense dislike of or animosity toward oneself.
self-healing
nounC1
/ˌself ˈhiːlɪŋ/The ability of something to repair itself automatically without external intervention.

Showing 3521–3540 of 15552 words.