variants also dependance
Definition of dependencenext
1
as in dependency
the quality or state of needing something or someone a baby's total dependence upon his or her parents for every one of life's needs

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2
as in reliance
something or someone to which one looks for support ultimately rice became the chief dependence in that state

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3
as in addiction
a physiological need for certain drugs acquired a dependence on prescription painkillers following back surgery

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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 dependence Forky has shades of Buster Bluth, the socially inept youngest sibling in Arrested Development, and Gary Walsh, the always available aide in VEEP, who brings co-dependence to dizzying new heights. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2026 Countries affected by the disruption are expected to bolster energy stockpiles, direct resources to ramp up domestic production, and pursue alternative supply routes to reduce dependence on a single chokepoint. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 19 June 2026 Endosymbiosis can also be classified by the degree of dependence between the host and the endosymbiont. Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026 Reducing America’s dependence on foreign sources for critical medical products is not only a public health priority but also a national security imperative. W. Craig Vanderwagen, STAT, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dependence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dependence
Noun
  • For healthcare organizations, investing in their own infrastructure may help reduce some of the dependencies and price fluctuations that may otherwise exist when relying on public cloud infrastructure.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • These dependencies present supply chain challenges as some of the import sources are located in adversarial or geopolitically unstable nations.
    Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Downtown Sacramento businesses remain skeptical that the state’s July return-to-office mandate affecting roughly 95,000 employees will actually materialize, even as foot traffic sits at 85% of April 2019 levels and local leaders rethink the urban core’s heavy reliance on office space.
    Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026
  • The concern that humanity’s reliance on AI systems will stunt people’s ability to think and reason for themselves is one that AI companies should address,Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark said at a recent Aspen Institute event.
    Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Once open, the program will provide transitional housing and on-site services to people who are chronically homeless and struggling with drug addiction, mental health or all types of disabilities.
    Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
  • Adelson, a doctor who has focused on addiction, is the majority shareholder of Las Vegas Sands, a casino company, and a majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team.
    Eric Lau, Washington Post, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Katie Couric has had a prolific career in journalism—including becoming the first solo female anchor of an evening news program—but her career had rough beginnings that included sexism and harassment.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 24 June 2026
  • Verhoeff was an anchor in the top four for North Dakota and was key on its power play with his booming shot.
    Joe Smith, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • More than an idyllic lakeside hamlet beloved by the international jet set, the northern Italian town of Como and the surrounding area are home to the country’s biggest silk-making districts, part of Italy’s fashion supply chain backbone.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
  • The Gilded Age fortunes that scandalized their contemporaries became, within a generation, the universities, museums and hospitals that form America’s civic backbone.
    Douglas P. McCormick, Fortune, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • One of the site’s 36 pillars — the tallest one in the middle — could be a perch for a big, pink, screeching bird.
    Ryan Steven Green, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Its success or failure could help determine whether battery repurposing becomes a niche practice or a major pillar of the future energy-storage industry.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • That includes people who use a portable oxygen tank or are unable to walk without the assistance of a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic or other assistive device.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
  • Throughout the finale, Niall continues to struggle with his identity, using chemsex parties as a crutch that are slowly but surely derailing his life.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • The satire mainstay has faced legal roadblocks in taking over Alex Jones’s conspiracy theory juggernaut.
    Scott Nover, Washington Post, 28 June 2026
  • The Bearquickly became a Primetime Emmy Awards mainstay, with 49 nominations through Seasons 1 to 4 and wins for Best Comedy Series for Season 1.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dependence. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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