Synonyms of independent

independent

adjective

ˌin-də-ˈpen-dənt 

1

as in autonomous

able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help

an independent young man who moved out of his parents' house while still a college student

Synonyms & Similar Words

• autonomous
• powerful
• self-sufficient
• self-reliant
• self-dependent
• self-sustaining
• self-sustained
• free
• self-supported
• self-supporting
• strong
• self-subsistent
• self-subsisting
• self-determining
• resilient
• potent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dependent
• inadequate
• insufficient
• incompetent
• reliant
• helpless
• weak
• impotent

2

as in separate

not being under the rule or control of another

finally they are an independent people, after centuries of domination by their more powerful neighbors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• autonomous
• separate
• sovereign
• democratic
• freestanding
• free
• liberated
• self-governing
• empowered
• self-governed
• sovran
• self-ruling
• freed
• emancipated
• republican
• released
• freeborn
• unsupervised
• delivered
• redeemed
• manumitted
• unconquered
• unruled
• enfranchised

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dependent
• subject
• nonautonomous
• unfree
• captive
• bound
• subdued
• subjugated
• enslaved
• conquered
• fettered
• subordinate
• non-self-governing
• subservient
• inferior

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective independent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of independent are autonomous, free, and sovereign. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.

the colony's struggle to become independent

Where would autonomous be a reasonable alternative to independent?

Although the words autonomous and independent have much in common, autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

When can free be used instead of independent?

While in some cases nearly identical to independent, free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.

you're free to do as you like

When could sovereign be used to replace independent?

The synonyms sovereign and independent are sometimes interchangeable, but sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.

separate and sovereign armed services

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of independent

An independent United Nations inquiry also concluded today for the first time that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, where nearly 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry there. —Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025

More recently, Perpetua’s application for $2 billion in debt financing to fund the project is under review by the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., an independent executive branch agency. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 12 Sep. 2025

An Indie Next pick, one of Shondaland’s Best Books for November 2022, this novel features another small-town independent bookstore. —Susan Coll september 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025

By the dawn of Trump’s second term, a younger billionaire, Elon Musk, appeared to have supplanted Murdoch, and pundits were hailing the power of independent podcasters, comedians, and vloggers. —Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2025