self-sustaining
adjective
self-sus·tain·ing
ˌself-sə-ˈstā-niŋ 
1
: maintaining or able to maintain oneself or itself by independent effort
a self-sustaining community
2
: maintaining or able to maintain itself once commenced
a self-sustaining nuclear reaction
Examples of self-sustaining in a Sentence
with its own farm, the estate was largely self-sustaining
Recent Examples on the Web
In addition to its momentum and self-sustaining nature, drive has another advantage over motivation: It can be developed and strengthened over time.
—
Ryan McGrath, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
Significantly, some states had self-sustaining populations of wild turkeys that could serve as seed stock.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2023
Like self-sustaining fusion power and full self-driving cars, in the last decade virtual reality (VR) has joined the ranks of technology not quite living up to its promise.
—Sarah Wells, Popular Mechanics, 15 Mar. 2023
Here, design is paired with community-conscious programming, inviting and encouraging the museum’s immediate neighbors to learn about self-sustaining agricultural practices in a fun, safe environment.
—Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 8 Mar. 2023
Criticality occurs when enough neutrons hit enough other fissile uranium atoms to create a self-sustaining nuclear reaction.
—Michael Koziol, IEEE Spectrum, 1 June 2018
But Chinese leaders are trying to avoid reigniting a rise in debt and want to nurture self-sustaining growth based on consumption instead of exports and investment.
—Joe McDonald, ajc, 5 Mar. 2023
Greenleaf says part of recovery includes increasing genetic diversity so the wolves can achieve a self-sustaining population.
—Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2023
If your offering isn’t economically viable, then your project wouldn’t be able to turn into a self-sustaining business.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023
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Ryan McGrath, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
Significantly, some states had self-sustaining populations of wild turkeys that could serve as seed stock.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2023
Like self-sustaining fusion power and full self-driving cars, in the last decade virtual reality (VR) has joined the ranks of technology not quite living up to its promise.
—Sarah Wells, Popular Mechanics, 15 Mar. 2023
Here, design is paired with community-conscious programming, inviting and encouraging the museum’s immediate neighbors to learn about self-sustaining agricultural practices in a fun, safe environment.
—Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 8 Mar. 2023
Criticality occurs when enough neutrons hit enough other fissile uranium atoms to create a self-sustaining nuclear reaction.
—Michael Koziol, IEEE Spectrum, 1 June 2018
But Chinese leaders are trying to avoid reigniting a rise in debt and want to nurture self-sustaining growth based on consumption instead of exports and investment.
—Joe McDonald, ajc, 5 Mar. 2023
Greenleaf says part of recovery includes increasing genetic diversity so the wolves can achieve a self-sustaining population.
—Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2023
If your offering isn’t economically viable, then your project wouldn’t be able to turn into a self-sustaining business.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Self-sustaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-sustaining. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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