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
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Recent Examples of dependence
Clinical trials may study cannabis products as medical treatments, the effects of cannabis on its users, or factors related to abuse and dependence.
—
Lucy Xiaolu Wang, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
The World Bank, in fact, attributes most of the drop in the global economy’s dependence on oil to stricter fuel efficiency requirements for vehicles around the world.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
So, here was Ondaatje just writing about his day-t0-day, grappling with the intense swings of emotion any parent must reckon with as their children grow into autonomy, forever leaving behind the heartbreakingly sweet (and frequently tedious) dependences of childhood.
—Jonny Diamond, Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
Cloud battled migraine headaches due to a previous injury, which Levinson suggests was partly to blame — and perhaps an easy excuse — for his dependence on painkillers.
—Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dependence
Lucy Xiaolu Wang, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
The World Bank, in fact, attributes most of the drop in the global economy’s dependence on oil to stricter fuel efficiency requirements for vehicles around the world.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
So, here was Ondaatje just writing about his day-t0-day, grappling with the intense swings of emotion any parent must reckon with as their children grow into autonomy, forever leaving behind the heartbreakingly sweet (and frequently tedious) dependences of childhood.
—Jonny Diamond, Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
Cloud battled migraine headaches due to a previous injury, which Levinson suggests was partly to blame — and perhaps an easy excuse — for his dependence on painkillers.
—Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dependence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dependence
Noun
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Glazer ordered that Rivera have no unsupervised contact with her son, subject to what is ordered in dependency court.—
April 10,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The one that resonates most with me is the push to end our dependency on fossil fuels and move toward clean energy sources, such as solar and wind.—
Denise St. Pierre,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Janos Kummer / Getty Images During his 16 years in power, Orbán deepened Hungary's reliance on Russian oil, gas and nuclear power.—
Aidan Stretch,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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However, China has sought to reduce reliance on the US as relations have soured, cutting imports from 28% a decade ago to 2% in the first eight months of last year and boosting its domestic supply.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The markets, which include Polymarket and its chief rival Kalshi, have been criticized for everything from undermining the integrity of sports to contributing to an online betting addiction crisis among young men.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Ibogaine, a naturally occurring compound from a shrub native to Africa, is used to treat depression, anxiety, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder and brain trauma.—
Jennifer Jacobs,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This will also inevitably impact the wider creative industries ecosystem, given the BBC’s crucial anchor role in commissioning content and nurturing talent.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of pitons that damaged the rock walls climbers were ascending, Chouinard Equipment started selling chocks, metal anchors that could be wedged into existing cracks in the rock.—
Tony Biasotti,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Materials with high entanglement could become the backbone of future quantum computers or ultra-secure communication networks.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Data centers, the backbone of the AI economy, are among the most energy-intensive assets in the world.—
Pandu Sjahrir,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Here, a stucco-and-stone entry provides a contrasting warmth through the simple addition of wooden pillars on the porch.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Apr. 2026
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Swisher has taken some strategies with her for these pillars of wellness.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There’s a case to be made for smart systems acting as a safety net rather than a crutch.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
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But where other comics might lean on quantity as a crutch to compensate for quality, Kashian genuinely just has this much to say.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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With Curry available for the postseason, and fellow mainstay Draymond Green also firmly in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, the current veteran core only has so many more shots at postseason glory before retirement calls.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
12 Apr. 2026
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Monetizing music festival attendance Coachella, in its 25th edition this year, has been an annual mainstay of internet culture.—
Kaitlyn Huamani,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dependence. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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