as in independence
the ability to care for one's self some people don't achieve self-reliance until they're over 30 years old

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 self-reliance But for policymakers, intense competition could help achieve industrial upgrading and self-reliance. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 11 July 2025 Such academic collaborations were not contradictory to the North Korean credo of Juche (self-reliance) but rather a means of furthering the resilience capacity of the country’s ecological system which inherently transcends borders. Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 Stacy sought to foster emotional and physical self-reliance among its campers, according to Texas Monthly, which cited an old brochure from her time. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 5 July 2025 Field researchers thrive on a specific set of skills and attributes: resilience, self-reliance, creative problem-solving, and the ability to focus on the moment to decide what needs to be done. Sarah Boon june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliance
Noun
  • Still, activists among these communities frequently accuse the government of oppression, while others have taken up arms in the name of greater autonomy or even independence.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 July 2025
  • This funding will help provide the tools and resources these new young adults need to obtain temporary housing, bridging the gap between foster care and independence.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 29 July 2025
Noun
  • Instead, managers should empower teams with clear goals, autonomy and accountability.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
  • Even so, ever since Trump took office for a second time and started to consolidate his control over the entire federal government—including supposedly independent agencies—the autonomy of the Fed has again been called into question.
    John Cassidy, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
Noun
  • That change may leave many disabled individuals without the necessary time to achieve self-sufficiency.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 10 July 2025
  • During a recent interview with Bustle magazine, Hudson opened about the importance of teaching her kids self-sufficiency.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliance. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on self-reliance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!