variants also dependance
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 anchor
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 Still, Nvidia’s dependence on a handful of large customers — two of which made up a whopping 39% of its second-quarter revenue — has raised concerns about concentration risks. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025 But dependence and withdrawal symptoms are not all the public has to worry about with kratom. Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025 As the family navigates the challenges of an unfamiliar city and new life, the three women struggle with real-world pressures while finding belonging and family bonds through their mutual dependence. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025 This prevents some of the complications that arise with outside opioid medications, including constipation, brain fog, slowed breathing, nausea, and drug tolerance and dependence. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dependence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dependence
Noun
  • For a generation of students who’ve grown up tethered to devices, and the parents who often modeled that dependency, this change won’t be easy.
    Elan Gepner-Dales, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
  • To meet these rising demand for batteries, researchers must achieve breakthroughs in performance, safety, and cost efficiency to reduce the dependency on critical minerals.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Seconds after the anchors thanked Pulte for appearing and handed things off to Squawk on the Street, the production crew were tearing down the set and prepping for the opening bell.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
  • As occupancy declines, attention turns to smaller retailers who may need relocation support, and larger anchors who often require tailored solutions.
    Kristin Mueller, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And Sheen does find the words to tell more harrowing stories of addiction and excess that defined his Hollywood spiral.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The White House has defended the unprecedented move, at least in part, by warning about the very real national security threat posed by our reliance on the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which produces the lion’s share of the planet’s chipmaking.
    Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The book, as suggested by its title, charts Elvis’s decline, including his emotional reliance on overeating.
    Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Leaders who treat this period as an opportunity to establish alignment, celebrate progress, and embed new habits set their organizations on a trajectory toward lasting ROI.
    Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Adults who have trouble sleeping or don’t maintain healthy sleeping habits can often trace those issues back to their first few months of life, says Golshevky.
    Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dependence. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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