Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective independent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of independent are autonomous, free, and sovereign. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.

the colony's struggle to become independent

Where would autonomous be a reasonable alternative to independent?

Although the words autonomous and independent have much in common, autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

When can free be used instead of independent?

While in some cases nearly identical to independent, free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.

you're free to do as you like

When could sovereign be used to replace independent?

The synonyms sovereign and independent are sometimes interchangeable, but sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.

separate and sovereign armed services

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 independent For independent musicians like Tony Justice, who rely on royalties and licensing to make a living, the case represents a fight for economic survival in an industry being reshaped by automation. Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 The increase may lie in the California Film Commission’s recent pivot toward increasingly tapping independent films to receive tax credits to shoot in the state. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025 According to independent testing under ISO standards, Pure. Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025 An independent analysis from think tank Energy Innovation released this summer showed killing the tax credits would further raise US household energy bills over the next decade. Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for independent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for independent
Adjective
  • The aircraft’s interoperability with existing vertiport infrastructure, combined with its autonomous capabilities, is expected to create an air mobility ecosystem that functions much like car-sharing services, automated, efficient, and widely accessible.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025
  • That includes areas as diverse as nanomaterials, autonomous robots, spacecraft and space launches, and nuclear and solar power.
    Hugh Son, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Croup swells the upper area of the passageways— lungs are a separate issue.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025
  • During three separate Starship launches since October, SpaceX returned the massive spacecraft's rocket booster at its South Texas launch site to be caught by its giant tower with metal arms.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The powerful currents of flash floods can carry drivers off the road.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
  • In many respects, CDMS users receive the powerful anti-ship capabilities of a surface warfare vessel worth many hundreds of millions of dollars for just a tiny fraction of that price.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • And, unlike sovereign assets, bitcoin carries no risk of default and no exposure to a single government’s fiscal or political decisions.
    Luke Xie, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Following recent announcements by Britain, France and others, around 150 United Nations member countries officially acknowledge the state of Palestine, reflecting a near-global consensus that two sovereign nations represent the only viable path to peace.
    Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The home is self-sufficient thanks to solar panels that generate three times its energy needs with the surplus going back into the local grid.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025
  • At its peak, Eloise was a self-sufficient community spanning 900 acres with over 70 buildings.
    Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Instead, Battilana emphasizes that learning your way around the kitchen from a young age can help a person feel more self-reliant.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Sigma: This term refers to an independent or self-reliant person who operates outside traditional social hierarchies, like a lone wolf.
    Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The film’s plot is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy that Indians should be self-dependent to achieve their goals.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Mar. 2023
Adjective
  • For this, researchers from China have developed various next-generation triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which offer a self-sustaining power solution for marine regions.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Leading to a self-sustaining economic loop where revenue generated from global-facing media products is reinvested directly into local wages, taxes, and services, fostering a stable foundation for multi-generational upward mobility.
    Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Independent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/independent. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on independent

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