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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of dependence
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
The district proposed a balanced budget earlier this month, but it was criticized by some board members for not including borrowing, a repayment to the city for the pensions of nonteaching district staff and a dependence on tax increment funding CPS has not yet secured.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 27 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
Palantir’s dependence on government deals introduces uncertainty and volatility, leading Citron to claim that the stock is unjustifiably expensive even after recent losses.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dependence
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
The district proposed a balanced budget earlier this month, but it was criticized by some board members for not including borrowing, a repayment to the city for the pensions of nonteaching district staff and a dependence on tax increment funding CPS has not yet secured.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 27 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
Palantir’s dependence on government deals introduces uncertainty and volatility, leading Citron to claim that the stock is unjustifiably expensive even after recent losses.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dependence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dependence
Noun
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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
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Minor left the Cincinnati area last year after accepting a job with LEX 18 (WLEX-TV), an NBC affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky, as a weekday early evening news co-anchor.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Sep. 2025
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Strahan has since retired as a player and moved on to television roles as an anchor and co-host on ABC's Good Morning America and analyst for Fox NFL Sunday.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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A little before that, McElwee inserts an extremely candid interview in which Adrian, who has just gotten out of another rehab program in Colorado, discusses his addiction problems with honesty and intelligence.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Simone Jasper,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dependence. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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