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 This illustrates how hyperscalers are building infrastructure that reduces dependence on any single CPU vendor. Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 22 May 2026 China, for its part, is accelerating its efforts to reduce dependence on Western semiconductors, software, and financial infrastructure. Neil Shearing, Time, 20 May 2026 Expanding in-state energy production and modernizing our grid will help reduce dependence on volatile markets and improve resilience. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026 Archer says Joby is hiding its dependence on money and parts from China. Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dependence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dependence
Noun
  • Solve problems in ways that reduce organizational friction rather than increase dependency on you.
    Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
  • The event took place at The Montálban Theatre in Los Angeles on April 22, with 100% of ticket sales going toward the organization’s mission of providing financial crisis relief, mental health therapy, chemical dependency treatment sponsorship, and community support for stand-up comedians.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 May 2026
Noun
  • She’s spent decades exploring how natural materials such as wood and cellulose can replace plastics and help industries reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026
  • In fact, Socrates himself refused to write anything down, fearing that reliance on external records would weaken the mind.
    Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • This interactive experience in Pa’a village near Hilo on the Island of Hawaii was created by community leader Iopa Maunakea to help local men recover from incarceration and addiction.
    Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
  • Philip Sullivan, who runs the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling’s helpline, said many under-21 prediction site users who reached out for help had relapsed from addictions to other betting platforms.
    Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Since then Keiper has bounced between anchor/reporter gigs at WLS-AM 890, WBBM-AM 780 and a Waukegan station, even serving six years as Midwest correspondent at Fox News Radio.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
  • Perry’s stepfather, the news anchor Keith Morrison, gave the only courtroom address from the family.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • Its wealthy, environmentally minded consumers became the backbone of its electric car business.
    Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • And anyone who doesn’t have the backbone to stand up to Trump and recognize a basic fact of our democracy shouldn’t be trusted as our governor.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
Noun
  • Here, 120 massive concrete pillars sink 50 feet into the ground, down to the bedrock, to support the weight of the marble above.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 2026
  • Such an initiative should rest on five pillars.
    David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • Game night flies by in a montage — the crutch of comedies that can’t sustain conversations and jokes at the same time (or, to be fair, feel crunched for time).
    Hugh Hart, IndieWire, 23 May 2026
  • The 2026 Pulse of Work report—a survey of 2,500 respondents of both knowledge workers and IT managers on AI deployment—found that Gen Z workers were especially likely to treat the tech as a crutch, and 62% admitted to it.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Denver finalized multi-year deals with multi-year mainstays Strnad and Singleton, cut 2025 signee Dre Greenlaw, and immediately set the precedent for an offseason of unprecedented veteran retention.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
  • Charles was a mainstay under now-United States Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes and flourished in the 2023-2024 season, starting every league game, amassing 1,890 minutes, and recording the most goal-creating actions in the league.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 31 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dependence. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.

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