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
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-reliance
After a decade of deepening rivalry, Beijing comes to this meeting with its own playbook, which includes a sweeping drive for economic self-reliance and a stronger toolkit to handle foreign sanctions on Chinese companies.
—
Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
But the increasing list of restrictions on chip exports may only push China deeper in its drive for self-reliance.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
Assuming the ceasefire holds and trade through Hormuz resumes, the rest of the year seems to be pointing to a recovery phase defined by greater self-reliance.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 4 May 2026
No one wants to have an anxious style, meaning a hunger for reassurance and intimacy, or an avoidant one, implying distance and self-reliance.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
But the increasing list of restrictions on chip exports may only push China deeper in its drive for self-reliance.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
Assuming the ceasefire holds and trade through Hormuz resumes, the rest of the year seems to be pointing to a recovery phase defined by greater self-reliance.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 4 May 2026
No one wants to have an anxious style, meaning a hunger for reassurance and intimacy, or an avoidant one, implying distance and self-reliance.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliance
Noun
-
South African lawmakers chose a critic of President Cyril Ramaphosa to head an inquiry into whether the head of state should face impeachment, in a move seen as preserving the probe’s independence.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
-
The overhaul sought by some GOP lawmakers has sparked fears in both states that the changes, if implemented, would threaten judicial independence and politicize the judiciary.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The teaming pairs Elbit America’s experience as a systems integrator and manufacturer of large ground vehicles with Anduril’s expertise in C5ISR, battle management and autonomy software, according to the announcement.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
-
The older boys moved through the neighborhood with increasing autonomy.—
Kate Casey,
Vanity Fair,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The supply of properties that check all these boxes — functional ranch infrastructure, winery entitlements, the land and water profile that makes genuine self-sufficiency possible — is finite in ways that new construction can’t solve.—
Lindsey Harn,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
-
Taken as such, strategic autonomy is best seen as leverage and flexibility rather than self-sufficiency.—
Andrew Latham,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliance. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
