variants also dependance
Definition of dependencenext
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

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2
as in reliance
something or someone to which one looks for support ultimately rice became the chief dependence in that state

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3
as in addiction
a physiological need for certain drugs acquired a dependence on prescription painkillers following back surgery

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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 dependence Forky has shades of Buster Bluth, the socially inept youngest sibling in Arrested Development, and Gary Walsh, the always available aide in VEEP, who brings co-dependence to dizzying new heights. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026 Countries affected by the disruption are expected to bolster energy stockpiles, direct resources to ramp up domestic production, and pursue alternative supply routes to reduce dependence on a single chokepoint. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 19 June 2026 Endosymbiosis can also be classified by the degree of dependence between the host and the endosymbiont. Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026 Reducing America’s dependence on foreign sources for critical medical products is not only a public health priority but also a national security imperative. W. Craig Vanderwagen, STAT, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dependence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dependence
Noun
  • By focusing on legacy component replication, the company aims to reduce dependency on fragile global supply chains and shorten repair timelines for aging defense systems.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026
  • Build Teams That Can Function Without You The real challenge is not keeping work moving, but ensuring people can truly disconnect without guilt or dependency.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Downtown Sacramento businesses remain skeptical that the state’s July return-to-office mandate affecting roughly 95,000 employees will actually materialize, even as foot traffic sits at 85% of April 2019 levels and local leaders rethink the urban core’s heavy reliance on office space.
    Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026
  • The concern that humanity’s reliance on AI systems will stunt people’s ability to think and reason for themselves is one that AI companies should address,Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark said at a recent Aspen Institute event.
    Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Once open, the program will provide transitional housing and on-site services to people who are chronically homeless and struggling with drug addiction, mental health or all types of disabilities.
    Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
  • Adelson, a doctor who has focused on addiction, is the majority shareholder of Las Vegas Sands, a casino company, and a majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team.
    Eric Lau, Washington Post, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Katie Couric has had a prolific career in journalism—including becoming the first solo female anchor of an evening news program—but her career had rough beginnings that included sexism and harassment.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 24 June 2026
  • Verhoeff was an anchor in the top four for North Dakota and was key on its power play with his booming shot.
    Joe Smith, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • More than an idyllic lakeside hamlet beloved by the international jet set, the northern Italian town of Como and the surrounding area are home to the country’s biggest silk-making districts, part of Italy’s fashion supply chain backbone.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
  • The Gilded Age fortunes that scandalized their contemporaries became, within a generation, the universities, museums and hospitals that form America’s civic backbone.
    Douglas P. McCormick, Fortune, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Personalized treatments are built around three pillars—energetic renewal, conscious longevity, and stress management—and integrated with the landscape and architecture of the property and the regional cuisine.
    Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 21 June 2026
  • This delightful journey starts by passing through a decorative iron gate supported by stone pillars.
    James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • That includes people who use a portable oxygen tank or are unable to walk without the assistance of a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic or other assistive device.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
  • Throughout the finale, Niall continues to struggle with his identity, using chemsex parties as a crutch that are slowly but surely derailing his life.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • The La Roja boss didn’t react quickly enough to the situation, instead opting for more of the same after the halftime break – rightly or wrongly relying on his mainstay players who largely brought him to this point – and didn’t change anyone until the 71st minute.
    Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live mainstay Guillermo Rodriguez is joining the cast of the forthcoming season of the reality competition series, ABC announced on Wednesday.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 18 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dependence. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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