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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in addiction
a physiological need for certain drugs
acquired a dependence on prescription painkillers following back surgery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dependence
The goal here is to help the mind see independence and dependence more objectively and gently open up to the benefits of outside help.
—
Michele Ross, SELF, 19 Jan. 2026
The trial was drawn out for a number of reasons, with the main one being the prosecution’s dependence on Bianchi, a deeply unreliable witness.
—Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Starlink’s direct-to-cell capability, which aims to provide LTE cellular connectivity directly to ordinary cellphones, could reduce dependence on specialized hardware.
—Alberto Dainotti, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
The Czech Republic, another landlocked country, stopped buying Russian oil after the invasion of Ukraine, while Hungary chose to deepen its dependence on Russia.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dependence
Michele Ross, SELF, 19 Jan. 2026
The trial was drawn out for a number of reasons, with the main one being the prosecution’s dependence on Bianchi, a deeply unreliable witness.
—Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Starlink’s direct-to-cell capability, which aims to provide LTE cellular connectivity directly to ordinary cellphones, could reduce dependence on specialized hardware.
—Alberto Dainotti, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
The Czech Republic, another landlocked country, stopped buying Russian oil after the invasion of Ukraine, while Hungary chose to deepen its dependence on Russia.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dependence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dependence
Noun
-
People who only drink for fun are not likely to develop a dependency, Knowles said.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Many Latin American nations are wary of trading one dependency for another.—
Oliver Stuenkel,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Mobile, self-generating power reduces reliance on fuel convoys, cuts logistics costs, and increases operational flexibility.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Auditors say the shortfall can be explained by the district's staffing roster missing dozens of employees and their salaries, as well as years of over-reliance on state COVID funding, which has run dry.—
Ali Bauman,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the weeks since the Reiners' deaths and their son's arrest, details of his troubled history of addiction and mental illness have been revealed or otherwise resurfaced.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Nick and his parents previously spoke candidly about Nick's troubled years struggling with drug addiction.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The event will feature coverage and analysis from veteran sports anchor Elle Duncan, climbing commentator Pete Woods, professional climber Emily Harrington, science expert Mark Rober and WWE superstar Seth Rollins.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
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After nearly 10 years at sports giant ESPN, Elle Duncan departed last month to join Netflix — coming on board as the streamer’s first sports anchor.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Derived from the Soviet-era Tu-16, these aircraft remain the backbone of China’s operational bomber force as Beijing pushes to strengthen its maritime strike and surveillance capabilities.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
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For many of these rural areas where there are coal mines and giant coal generating power plants, it's been the backbone of the air economy.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The geologic monocline extends almost 100 miles and is surrounded by white sandstone domes, towering monoliths, and otherworldly pillars and arches.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
-
As prosecutor general, Saab has been a key legal pillar of Nicolás Maduro’s government, overseeing cases against opposition leaders, protesters, journalists and civil society activists.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Dempsey assaulted another police officer with a metal crutch, cracking his protective shield and cutting his head.—
Jeffrey Goldberg,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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And for every student who wants to use AI as a crutch or shortcut, there are other students who are concerned about using it responsibly, even sparingly.—
Degen Pener,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
White shoes had a big year in 2025, surpassing their role as a summer mainstay and becoming a year-round shoe staple for celebrities who wore them on and off the red carpet.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
7 Jan. 2026
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In the mix are Fox mainstay Gordon Ramsay, popular YouTube baker Rosanna Pansino, as well as the British duo known as Jolly, Sorted Food, Food Theorists, and Little Remy Food.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dependence. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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