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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of independent
For independent musicians like Tony Justice, who rely on royalties and licensing to make a living, the case represents a fight for economic survival in an industry being reshaped by automation.
—
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
The increase may lie in the California Film Commission’s recent pivot toward increasingly tapping independent films to receive tax credits to shoot in the state.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
According to independent testing under ISO standards, Pure.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
An independent analysis from think tank Energy Innovation released this summer showed killing the tax credits would further raise US household energy bills over the next decade.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for independent
Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
The increase may lie in the California Film Commission’s recent pivot toward increasingly tapping independent films to receive tax credits to shoot in the state.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
According to independent testing under ISO standards, Pure.
—Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
An independent analysis from think tank Energy Innovation released this summer showed killing the tax credits would further raise US household energy bills over the next decade.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for independent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for independent
Adjective
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The aircraft’s interoperability with existing vertiport infrastructure, combined with its autonomous capabilities, is expected to create an air mobility ecosystem that functions much like car-sharing services, automated, efficient, and widely accessible.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Oct. 2025
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That includes areas as diverse as nanomaterials, autonomous robots, spacecraft and space launches, and nuclear and solar power.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Croup swells the upper area of the passageways— lungs are a separate issue.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
14 Oct. 2025
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During three separate Starship launches since October, SpaceX returned the massive spacecraft's rocket booster at its South Texas launch site to be caught by its giant tower with metal arms.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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One of two vice-chairmen of the commission, the general is the third-most powerful commander of the People’s Liberation Army and has been considered a close associate of President Xi Jinping, the army’s commander-in-chief.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
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The powerful currents of flash floods can carry drivers off the road.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In one of his latest notes, the strategist downgraded European investment-grade bonds from banks to underweight from neutral, saying sovereign fiscal risk — most notably in France — poses more downside risk to the banking sector.—
Caleb Mutua,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
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Saudi Arabia announced another new huge real estate project to be developed by its sovereign wealth fund.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The home is self-sufficient thanks to solar panels that generate three times its energy needs with the surplus going back into the local grid.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
11 Oct. 2025
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At its peak, Eloise was a self-sufficient community spanning 900 acres with over 70 buildings.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, Battilana emphasizes that learning your way around the kitchen from a young age can help a person feel more self-reliant.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
30 Sep. 2025
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Sigma: This term refers to an independent or self-reliant person who operates outside traditional social hierarchies, like a lone wolf.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The film’s plot is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy that Indians should be self-dependent to achieve their goals.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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For this, researchers from China have developed various next-generation triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which offer a self-sustaining power solution for marine regions.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Aug. 2025
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Leading to a self-sustaining economic loop where revenue generated from global-facing media products is reinvested directly into local wages, taxes, and services, fostering a stable foundation for multi-generational upward mobility.—
Stephanie Tharpe,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Independent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/independent. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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