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 Because the Security Context Graph can operate across security products, IT systems, HR systems, data lakes, and line-of-business applications, organizations may reduce dependence on centralized ingestion models. K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 18 May 2026 Suez exposed the depth of Europe’s dependence on the United States. Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 18 May 2026 The sign’s app dependence means that the $149 device would essentially be bricked if the app were to close. ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026 Yet, any large-scale damage today would have far greater consequences than in the telegraph age, given the world’s near absolute dependence on data flows through these cables. Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dependence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dependence
Noun
  • The line is when behavior shifts from brand preference to deal dependency.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
  • That creates a dangerous dependency.
    Joseph M. Singer, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Noun
  • But observers worry the island’s heavy reliance on computer chipmakers and other technology companies carries risk if the AI craze becomes a bubble.
    Reuters, NBC news, 20 May 2026
  • Joby has accused Archer of corporate espionage, while Archer claims Joby is hiding its reliance on China.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • But behind the scenes, Lebron, 32, tells PEOPLE, the new influx of cash was financing a severe drug addiction.
    Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
  • Murdaugh also testified on his own behalf, admitting to lying to law enforcement and his yearslong addiction to opioids that often led to tension within his household.
    Pilar Melendez, NBC news, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • But about 15 people were kept in Atlanta, including Vinnie Politan, the network’s evening anchor since Court TV was revived in 2019 after an 11-year absence.
    Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 20 May 2026
  • The 10th District will feature a rematch between Perry, a retired Army National Guard brigadier general and staunch Trump ally, and Stelson, a former television news anchor who narrowly lost to him in 2024.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • The Vast satellite bus—essentially a backbone providing power, propulsion, and navigation for various payloads—will be based largely on technology ported over from the company’s Haven-1 space station, which is due to launch for the first time next year as the world’s first private space station.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
  • And the power of the internet essentially driving everything and being the backbone of everything.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • The library is a one-story brick building with two white pillars up front sticking out like tusks, smooth and thin.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
  • Laneda made Cornerstone Baptist Church another pillar of Jeffries’s upbringing.
    Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • Mary Todd Lincoln, amid her grief, grabbed the crutch of Spiritualism.
    Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • From ordering groceries to using AI to write for us, the digital world has become a facilitator but also a crutch.
    Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Mingling with all the new developments each summer, there are plenty of mainstay institutions and events that are gloriously familiar to frequent visitors.
    Nick Scott, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
  • And for the first time, top Wall Street banks weren’t just attracting WASP or old-line German Jewish men with family ties to banking, the historic mainstays of the finance world.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dependence. Accessed 24 May. 2026.

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