Synonyms of reliance

reliance

noun

ri-ˈlī-ən(t)s 

1

as in anchor

something or someone to which one looks for support

he's been the family's foremost reliance in times of trouble many times

Synonyms & Similar Words

• anchor
• backbone
• dependence
• pillar
• crutch
• standby
• mainstay
• buttress
• spine
• right hand
• refuge
• prop
• handmaiden
• anchorage
• sinew(s)
• stay
• harbor
• bolsterer

2

as in dependency

the quality or state of needing something or someone

a baby's reliance on her parents

his reliance on his next-door neighbor for all the local gossip

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dependency
• dependence
• reciprocity
• trust
• relativity
• confidence
• faith
• stock
• credence

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• independence
• self-reliance
• self-sufficiency
• independency
• self-support
• autonomy
• sovereignty
• self-dependence
• self-determination

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of reliance

Much of crypto's evolution this year has involved companies moving past their reliance on trading volumes and transaction fees, to focus instead on building the infrastructure connecting digital assets with traditional finance. — Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

Both candidates have promised to reduce the city’s legal costs by identifying problems that repeatedly lead to lawsuits and reducing reliance on outside attorneys. — Teresa Liu, Daily News, 3 Nov. 2026

Sodium-ion cells can also use aluminum current collectors on both electrodes, potentially reducing their reliance on copper. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026

But now, with the two countries in the thick of a trade war, Canada is taking a dramatic step to reduce its reliance on the United States. — Soph Warnes, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026