1
as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions
the director agreed to make the film only on the condition that she be given complete autonomy for the casting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in independence
the state of being free from the control or power of another
finding the mother country's treatment of them oppressive and intolerable, the 13 British colonies made the momentous decision to seek autonomy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of autonomy
To build machines with lifelike autonomy, researchers are turning to a new concept: autonomous physical intelligence (API).
—
New Atlas, 29 June 2025
Norton has long championed legislation to grant the District of Columbia full congressional representation and greater autonomy, a cause that has defined much of her tenure in the House.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
In an interview last week, Newkirk reiterated that what had happened to her daughter was a breach of autonomy.
—Christine Henneberg, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
Unlike the previous release, there's no cloud component, allowing robots to operate with full autonomy.
—ArsTechnica, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for autonomy
New Atlas, 29 June 2025
Norton has long championed legislation to grant the District of Columbia full congressional representation and greater autonomy, a cause that has defined much of her tenure in the House.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
In an interview last week, Newkirk reiterated that what had happened to her daughter was a breach of autonomy.
—Christine Henneberg, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
Unlike the previous release, there's no cloud component, allowing robots to operate with full autonomy.
—ArsTechnica, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for autonomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autonomy
Noun
-
Original price: $495 For a simple desk that provides storage and won’t take up a ton of space, this Canal three-drawer desk is a strong choice.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
-
The award-winning Financial Services Commission ensures adherence to global standards, making the jurisdiction a top choice for cross-border investment.—
Panorama Media Ltd,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Foster self-confidence and independence in your child.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
4 July 2025
-
A little more than a week later, the Smithsonian asserts its independence and throws its support behind its secretary Lonnie G. Bunch.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
The East Asian neighbors have two ongoing disputes in the East China Sea: one over the sovereignty of the uninhabited Senkaku island group—administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing as the Diaoyu Islands—and the other over energy exploration in the region.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
-
With strong regulatory foresight and a commitment to digital sovereignty, the region is turning trust and transparency into competitive advantages.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
In 18th-century slave-holding Brazil, Anna Borges fought for her freedom.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
11 July 2025
-
The club have given me this bit of freedom to make a decision.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
This visit was very important signal for our partners that Kyiv, much more safety right now, and also very important signal that Great Britain stay together with Ukraine, support Ukraine -- support our country in the fight for our freedom, for our independency.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2022
-
Yet the careful reader will appreciate the significance of the Puritan Cromwell’s independency.—
Barton Swaim,
WSJ,
27 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Autonomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autonomy. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share