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

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 autonomous The law, which revises earlier state guidelines for autonomous vehicles, requires the operators of self-driving cars to receive prior authorization from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Julia Shapero, The Hill, 19 June 2025 But that does not mean the company has plans to launch autonomous service in the San Diego area. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025 Google even introduced tools that can browse the web and use software under user direction — early examples of the autonomous AI agents that many see as the next frontier. Jackie Snow, Quartz, 7 June 2025 Although the federal government has already started to streamline some regulations around autonomous driving, Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein said regulators might possibly craft rules in a way that would single out Tesla. Chris Kirkham, USA Today, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for autonomous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autonomous
Adjective
  • According to the latest McKinsey American Opportunity Survey, 36% of the U.S. labor force identifies as independent workers today, up from 27% in 2016.
    Roomy Khan, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Democratic leaders have come under criticism from within, some for pushing the party too far left, and others for appearing too conciliatory toward Trump, and a number who have felt disillusioned with its agenda have left the party entirely to either identify as independent or as a Republican.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • This reminds me that most of my conversations at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos were spent discussing countries’ needs for a disconnected, sovereign AI cloud.
    Patrick Moorhead, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • That, potentially, is as much of a weakness, longer term, as a shortage of sovereign AI computing infrastructure.
    Ian King, CNBC, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • All are coordinated and named by a single body, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which has a separate name list for typhoons.
    Tom Brown, Space.com, 29 June 2025
  • The Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James have a long history in two separate stints with each other.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Autonomous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autonomous. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on autonomous

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