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

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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 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 reliance Human reliance on animal products was cooking the planet, and, as a chef, reducing his reliance on them could be part of a solution. Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2025 Yet consensus is lacking on how to balance AI’s efficiencies with maintaining students’ critical thinking skills, leaving schools at a crossroads where increased reliance on AI now could entrench it deeply in future education. Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025 Although the reliance on Falcon 9 may change as the new generation of medium- and heavy lift rockets comes online, satellite consultant Tim Farrar notes that other SpaceX competitors are still facing difficult decisions. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025 With a heavy reliance on federal contracts, Palantir remains exposed to political risk as well. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reliance
Noun
  • These elements can serve as the emotional anchor of any story. 5.
    Colin Dougan, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The Rockets also have a veteran line that will be the anchor for the offense.
    Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Identify adversarial country dependencies and invest in domestic alternatives.
    Shaun Walsh, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • But the colonel had developed a gambling addiction to go along with Elvis’ drug dependency.
    Kim Willis, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Schedule IV medications, substances or chemicals are defined as drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence.
    Katie Nixon, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Aug. 2025
  • In 1896, the Impressionist painter William Merritt Chase was ready to declare independence from the rigid hierarchies of the New York art scene and its dependence on European masters and methods.
    Anne Halsey, JSTOR Daily, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Small businesses are the backbone of every economy, but passion alone can’t protect a business from failure—sustainability requires systems.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • So, Booker might be right that Democrats lack backbone.
    David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Beneath the technical language are two cultural pillars every high-performing organization needs: personalization and empowerment.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • From its inception, when legendary photographer, filmmaker and author Gordon Parks served as the brand’s first Editorial Director, art has remained a pillar of the magazine’s identity.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Read more: Dolphins Suffer Yet Another Brutal Injury to Their Secondary Ashtyn Davis is back on sidelines with crutches & a boot on his left foot/lower leg.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 July 2025
  • Riders utilizing canes, crutches, walkers and other mobility aids due to temporary injuries can utilize these stations to their maximum capabilities.
    Tarek Hatab, New York Daily News, 26 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reliance. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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