Synonyms of autonomous

autonomous

adjective

ȯ-ˈtä-nə-məs 

as in independent

not being under the rule or control of another

Native American nations are regarded as autonomous in many respects and thus not subject to a number of state and local laws

Synonyms & Similar Words

• independent
• sovereign
• separate
• self-governing
• democratic
• self-governed
• freestanding
• self-ruling
• free
• liberated
• empowered
• emancipated
• freeborn
• unsupervised
• freed
• released
• republican
• redeemed
• delivered
• unruled
• unconquered
• manumitted
• enfranchised

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dependent
• subject
• nonautonomous
• unfree
• captive
• subjugated
• subdued
• bound
• enslaved
• conquered
• subordinate
• non-self-governing
• fettered
• subservient
• inferior

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective autonomous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of autonomous are free, independent, and sovereign. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

When might free be a better fit than autonomous?

While the synonyms free and autonomous are close in meaning, free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.

you're free to do as you like

When is it sensible to use independent instead of autonomous?

The synonyms independent and autonomous are sometimes interchangeable, but independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.

the colony's struggle to become independent

When would sovereign be a good substitute for autonomous?

The words sovereign and autonomous can be used in similar contexts, but sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.

separate and sovereign armed services

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of autonomous

What the House is discussing For years, Congress has been divided over autonomous vehicle regulation, slowing deployment and leaving the federal government without strict guidelines. —Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 12 Jan. 2026

The group is expected to meet on Friday and Saturday with government officials and business leaders from Denmark and Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026

Lawmakers may also revisit whether Illinois should allow autonomous vehicles as companies such as Waymo eye expansion. —Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026

Waymo said its autonomous drivers create an 85% lower crash rate than vehicles with human drivers — that humans crash 6.7 times more often than Waymo vehicles. —Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Dec. 2025