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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of reliance
The health care industry's reliance on tech comes into play in a surprisingly clever way.
—
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
That reliance, however, is deeply conditional.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
And in the long-term, the US intervention in Venezuela could only reinforce China’s pursuit of energy independence — attempting to produce more of its own energy at home and break reliance on foreign sources of energy that can be disrupted.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
The Knicks’ reliance on Brunson was a common critique of previous head coach Tom Thibodeau, whom Mike Brown replaced before this season.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reliance
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
That reliance, however, is deeply conditional.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
And in the long-term, the US intervention in Venezuela could only reinforce China’s pursuit of energy independence — attempting to produce more of its own energy at home and break reliance on foreign sources of energy that can be disrupted.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
The Knicks’ reliance on Brunson was a common critique of previous head coach Tom Thibodeau, whom Mike Brown replaced before this season.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reliance
Noun
-
Sales tax cannibalization Typically, STAR bond districts only capture and divert sales tax revenue generated by anchor developments and other establishments in their immediate vicinity to pay off the debt associated with construction.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
-
When restyling surfaces, Saab suggests sticking to a single anchor piece as an antidote to the excess of the holidays.—
Kristin Hohenadel,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
People who only drink for fun are not likely to develop a dependency, Knowles said.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Many Latin American nations are wary of trading one dependency for another.—
Oliver Stuenkel,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Mayo Clinic describes spinal stenosis as a condition where the spaces in the backbone are too small.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
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What’s old was new again in New England, where defense has always been the backbone of a franchise whose brain was Belichick and whose heart beat with Brady’s.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bolstering the state’s dependence on fossil fuels forces us to keep funding the destruction of our environment, health, and a civil democratic society.—
Anshul Gupta,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
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The prescription opioid pill, called naltrexone, was first approved by the FDA to treat opioid dependence in 1984.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The geologic monocline extends almost 100 miles and is surrounded by white sandstone domes, towering monoliths, and otherworldly pillars and arches.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
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As prosecutor general, Saab has been a key legal pillar of Nicolás Maduro’s government, overseeing cases against opposition leaders, protesters, journalists and civil society activists.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reliance. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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