relied

past tense of rely
as in depended
to place reliance or trust rigorously tested the rope before starting out, for the rock climbers would be relying on it with their very lives

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 relied Kate has relied on utility jackets for years, just proving how timeless and functional the style is. Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025 The program, however, relied on pandemic relief funds that have since run out. Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 15 Oct. 2025 In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Callum Sutherland, Time, 14 Oct. 2025 Ukraine has long sought more air defense as Russia has heavily relied on drone and missile assaults to pound civilian targets, including residential buildings, schools as well as maternity and children’s hospitals, since the onslaught of the war. Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025 Previously, China relied primarily on its coast guard and maritime militia to press territorial claims with lower risk of triggering armed conflict. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 Researchers have long relied on small, flexible catheters to minimize damage to delicate brain tissue, but these typically release medication from just one or two points, restricting their effectiveness. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025 Alternatively, the justices could rule narrowly in favor of the challengers, finding the map relied too much on race as a factor and force the legislature back to the drawing board. Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025 Very few English clubs did in those days; even most of the bigger sides relied primarily on agent tip-offs or media coverage to alert them to exciting talents elsewhere in Europe. Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relied
Verb
  • Having lost four of five matches entering the night, San Jose needed to win and depended on three other outcomes.
    Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Additional labs were drawn to rule out less serious causes, but answers ultimately depended on the biopsy results.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In most cases, voters whose ballots were tallied using Dominion technology in 2024 will have their votes counted in the 2026 midterms using the same machines.
    Bente Birkeland, NPR, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Additionally, SiriusXM’s Big 40 Countdown, on 80s on 8, and the Back in the Day Replay, on ‘90s on 9, are based on historical weekly Billboard Hot 100 charts, with other surveys counted down on 70s on 7 and Prime Country.
    Pamela Bustios, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Relied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relied. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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