1
as in anchor
something or someone to which one looks for support he's been the family's foremost reliance in times of trouble many times

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in dependency
the quality or state of needing something or someone a baby's reliance on her parents his reliance on his next-door neighbor for all the local gossip

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 reliance As that relates to the garment industry, fast fashion blossomed through its reliance on very inexpensive clothing made from synthetics that—while not necessarily single use—aren’t generally worn more than a few times. Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 10 July 2025 Mikel Arteta’s reliance on Bukayo Saka on the right wing was highlighted as far back as the 2020-21 season, so having an option who could allow him to be rested would be welcome. Art De Roché, New York Times, 10 July 2025 That demand is being sparked, in part, by a growing reliance on artificial intelligence, which consumes massive amounts of power. Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 6 July 2025 With this legal framework, Florida is taking steps to reduce reliance on federal institutions and position itself as a destination for investors who favor a more decentralized financial model. Luciano Duque, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reliance
Noun
  • The Defenders: Guardrails And Context Builders Think of these as your knowledge anchors—defensive models optimized for retrieving and validating facts, documents and records.
    Ian Wilding, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • In the painful but necessary 2013 closings, no effort was made to replace shuttered schools that had served as neighborhood anchors or to ameliorate the harmful effects of closings.
    Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • The breaks show the hidden dependencies where your business still needs you as a crutch.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • The states with the highest vice dependencies are Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee.
    Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • In March, Trump invoked emergency powers under the Defense Production Act to expand domestic production of critical minerals as part of broader efforts to reduce U.S. dependence on China.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in recent days said his country needs to wean itself off of dependence on the US - particularly citing security - as Tokyo faces the prospect of new tariffs.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • The theatrical market, Roth explains, will be the backbone of The Horror Section’s business.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 9 July 2025
  • Before smartphones and summer schedules packed tighter than a church potluck, lawn sprinklers, slip n’ slides, biking to the neighborhood pool, and lemonade stands were the backbone of summer.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Hou identifies three core pillars that guide its allocations: income generators, secular growth equities and alpha-generating alternative investments.
    DBS Private Bank, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
  • As with fellow pillars of contemporary California cuisine in the Bay Area, Quince is devoted to sourcing the best product.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • The idea of crutches on cobblestone streets was comical, ridiculous and potentially dangerous.
    Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
  • In McLeod’s view, the future of AI could streamline the matching element of dating, working as a service rather than a crutch for users.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reliance. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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