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 And yet, this same reliance on sound that makes their communication so spectacular, leaves them especially vulnerable to anthropogenic noise intruding into their environment. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025 Microsoft's Office 365 suite will soon incorporate AI models from Anthropic alongside existing OpenAI technology, The Information reported, ending years of exclusive reliance on OpenAI for generative AI features across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 10 Sep. 2025 Toss in Thielen’s further acclimation to the evolved offense and more reliance on the running back duo of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, and the potential is undeniable. Alec Lewis, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025 Over the long term, too much reliance on outsiders can hollow out the in‑house skill base. Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reliance
Noun
  • In addition to Western guests, CGTN also uses Western news anchors and correspondents, giving the network an even more legitimate appearance.
    Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Krylon’s brown provides a grounding anchor, adding depth, while C2’s ochre highlights the heavier neutral.
    R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Rather than going all-in on AI literacy, the question is to calibrate deliberate exposure to mental challenges that build resistance to intellectual dependency.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Dating dinosaur eggs has typically been a challenge due to dependency on indirect methods, such as dating surrounding volcanic rocks.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But negative freedom without positive freedom quickly curdles into dependence.
    Henrietta Moore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Parents must carefully examine how their behaviors may reinforce dependence.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Organizations like the National Institutes of Health continue to recommend moderate to vigorous activity — such as brisk walking, running, or cycling — as the backbone of good health.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Having a strong offensive line is the backbone of any good offense.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Harried enjoyed a colorful green and purple display with vast pillars reaching high into the sky, as well as a subtle green glow as activity began to wane.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Britain’s ruling Labour party has made AI services and infrastructure, including large new data centers, a key pillar of its economic growth strategy, although the government has been criticized for tax policies that restrict the growth of its tech companies.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Next to them, a blond, fit-looking woman, seated alone on a mat with crutches beside her, massaged herself, kneading muscles with her hands and using a scarf to help stretch her legs.
    Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
  • At a recent Boston University panel about AI use, students distinguished between using ChatGPT as a tool and as a crutch.
    Joelle Renstrom August 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reliance. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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