as in independence
the ability to care for one's self
some people don't achieve self-reliance until they're over 30 years old
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Recent Examples of self-reliance
Since 2018, Xi has set aside integration and made self-reliance the organizing principle of China’s national strategy.
—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Beijing is moving to limit any H200 inflow despite Washington’s approval, according to the Financial Times—an unmistakable signal that self-reliance beats convenience.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Written by bandmembers Wharff, Ryan Atchison and Garrett Howell, this song makes a stark reflection on the futility of self-reliance, while expressing gratefulness to a higher power for renewal.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2025
This quest for self-reliance is not just about economics but explicitly tied to national security.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Beijing is moving to limit any H200 inflow despite Washington’s approval, according to the Financial Times—an unmistakable signal that self-reliance beats convenience.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Written by bandmembers Wharff, Ryan Atchison and Garrett Howell, this song makes a stark reflection on the futility of self-reliance, while expressing gratefulness to a higher power for renewal.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2025
This quest for self-reliance is not just about economics but explicitly tied to national security.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliance
Noun
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In some countries, their recent liberation from imperial rule (The Philippines, Iran, Morocco, among others), tinged the era with eagerness for a future defined by independence.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
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Several former heads of the central bank have come out against the move, characterizing it as an attempt to undermine the independence of the Federal Reserve, which is authorized by Congress to set monetary policy independent of the President's wishes.—
Time,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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McDaniel could have autonomy over Philadelphia’s offense and build a career at a place that’s been a springboard during the past decade.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
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As legal risks grow, so does their determination to protect access and bodily autonomy.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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China is reportedly poised to approve the imports, despite a top-down push for technology self-sufficiency.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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This means both rapid, flexible investments to address urgent humanitarian needs and sustainable support for civil society and markets to help transition from assistance to self-sufficiency.—
Ciaran Donnelly,
Time,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliance. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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