variants
also dependance
1
as in dependency
the quality or state of needing something or someone
a baby's total dependence upon his or her parents for every one of life's needs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in addiction
a physiological need for certain drugs
acquired a dependence on prescription painkillers following back surgery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of dependence
Beyond solving helium‑3 dependence, the new alloy offers additional benefits.
—
Etiido Uko
march 23, New Atlas, 23 Mar. 2026
If scaled successfully, rare earth recycling could strengthen supply chain security and lessen dependence on foreign sources, all while transforming how critical materials are sourced in the modern economy.
—Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, the heavy dependence on Chinese equipment is drawing attention to limited local manufacturing capacity.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Petro, a former rebel leader, soared into office promising to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and reallocate state resources to addressing entrenched poverty.
—Jim Mustian, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dependence
Etiido Uko
march 23, New Atlas, 23 Mar. 2026
If scaled successfully, rare earth recycling could strengthen supply chain security and lessen dependence on foreign sources, all while transforming how critical materials are sourced in the modern economy.
—Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, the heavy dependence on Chinese equipment is drawing attention to limited local manufacturing capacity.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Petro, a former rebel leader, soared into office promising to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and reallocate state resources to addressing entrenched poverty.
—Jim Mustian, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dependence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dependence
Noun
-
In the Middle East, Western imperial powers helped engineer a geopolitical order built on instability, mistrust, extraction and armed dependency.—
Mehrnoush Soroush,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
With longer mission lifespans and reduced dependency on fuel, satellite operators can lower costs and improve efficiency.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Hezbollah’s degradation over the past three years has increased its reliance on Tehran, but analysts disagree as to the extent.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Pave Space closed a $40 million seed financing round to build hardware that can move satellites or cargo to different orbits, as Europe attempts to reduce its reliance on the US to access space.—
Paula Doenecke,
Bloomberg,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Brain imaging studies of people diagnosed with internet gaming or social media disorders have shown structural and functional changes in these regions that resemble what doctors see in gambling and other behavioral addictions.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
In a high-profile trial focused on social media addiction, a Los Angeles jury yesterday found that Meta and Google's YouTube failed to warn users of dangers associated with the use of their platforms.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Geoff Bennett is the co-anchor and co-managing editor of PBS NewsHour and serves as a contributor to NBC News.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Origin’s Cuido platform was co-created in partnership with several large multinational employers who serve as Origin’s anchor customers, including Pfizer, Comcast, and BP.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To suddenly claim impartiality when an athlete is killed shows a lack of backbone and a failure to stand up for the very people who make the Olympic movement possible.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Those are the kinds of films that used to make up the backbone of the industry and drew in audiences between the big tentpole hits.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Eco effort Restoration, preservation and locality are key pillars for property.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Marylanders are voracious consumers of farm animals, and this industry is a vital pillar of the state’s economy.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That confidence has become both a strength and a crutch.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Here, the re-enactments lack the level of panache that made Pez Outlaw so much fun, feeling more like a crutch than an additive aesthetic choice.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Beauty of Joseon's viral Revive Eye Serum is an Allure reader mainstay.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The 27-year-old took the starting reins from mainstay Stefan Frei — now in a backup role.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dependence. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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