self-directed vs autonomous

self-directed and autonomous both are adjectives.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
self-directed	No	Yes	No	No
autonomous	No	Yes	No	No

As adjectives, self-directed and autonomous are synonyms defined as:

self-directed and autonomous: (of persons) free from external control and constraint in e.g. action and judgment

Other synonyms of self-directed include self-reliant.

self-directed (adjective)	autonomous (adjective)
(of persons) free from external control and constraint in e.g. action and judgment	(of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces
	(of persons) free from external control and constraint in e.g. action and judgment
	existing as an independent entity