reliance

noun

ri-ˈlī-ən(t)s How to pronounce reliance (audio)
Definition of reliancenext
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

Relevance
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 Officials want to prevent surveillance and cyberattacks while reducing America's reliance on Chinese technology. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026 According to the city’s news release, Westlake will gain about 14% of additional revenue every year, thus reducing reliance on residential property taxes. — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026 But for the most part, the further the narrative strays from the search at its center, the clunkier its reliance on synecdoche becomes. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 Much like its ride-hailing peers, DoorDash is interested in reducing its reliance on human operators for certain (low margin) orders, cutting delivery times for mid-range orders, and expanding its network. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reliance
  1. anchor
  2. dependency
  3. backbone
  4. dependence
  5. pillar
Noun
  • Celebrity Chef Eric Adjepong, a festival anchor, was particularly impressed by the diverse mango varieties, noting their versatility beyond sweetness for both savory and sweet dishes.
    — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Longtime SportsCenter anchor David Lloyd, injury expert Stephania Bell, talk show host Bart Scott and NFL Network analyst Charles Davis were also laid off as well, according to Front Office Sports.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of anchor
Noun
  • Why Vendor Dependencies Are An Increasing Risk As enterprises layer more services, integrations and automation into their environments, vendor dependencies, including in AI, become both a necessity and a liability.
    — Kevin Korte, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Several Gulf states want to expand pipeline capacity to reduce their dependency on Hormuz.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Definition of dependency
Noun
  • That pair — alongside Alejandro Kirk, who is under contract through 2030 — are the backbone of this team.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Millions of households that once formed the backbone of linear TV reach are no longer reachable through traditional cable buys.
    — Kris Qiu, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of backbone
Noun
  • Communities will debate whether AI improves access to knowledge or deepens dependence on a few private platforms.
    — Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The system also avoided hazardous conditions while controlling the spacecraft’s orientation, showing how autonomous software could reduce dependence on ground commands during military and scientific missions.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of dependence
Noun
  • The cues are on the pillar next to the transformer pool table.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Dior’s men’s fragrance business revolves around two modern pillars—Sauvage and Homme—and the prolific Kurkdjian thinks about the two pillars as neighboring territories.
    — Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of pillar

Browse Nearby Words

reliableness
reliance
reliances
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reliance. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reliance

Nglish: Translation of reliance for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reliance

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