SELF-DEPENDENCE Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

self-dependence

noun

ˌself-di-ˈpen-dən(t)s

Definition of self-dependence

as in independence

the ability to care for one's self encouraged her children to develop self-dependence at a relatively early age a level of self-dependence rarely seen in teens

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 self-dependence As Locke put it in his essay, this was a period of renewal, of self-respect, and of self-dependence among Black people. — Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-dependence

Noun

Scotland's John Swinney and Northern Ireland's Michelle O'Neill called for independence referendums in their countries, while Rhun ap Iorwerth did not provide a timetable for one in Wales.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Several Central American nations including El Salvador and Guatemala also celebrate their independence in September.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of independence

Noun

As the author points out, our autonomy has been removed from us piece by piece.

— Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
Will banning phones bring real-world clarity and connection to kids’ lives, or deprive them of one of their last routes to autonomy in a claustrophobic world?

— Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of autonomy

Browse Nearby Words

self-denying

self-dependence

self-dependent

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Self-dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-dependence. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of self-dependence

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

watershed

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes