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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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 Tongue-in-cheek humor aside, Stoke’s target consumer is proud to be an American, and is also a family man who values hard work and self-reliance. Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025 Radical self-reliance is a key tenet of Burning Man. Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025 Over the years Philippine counter-trafficking projects have found some ways to increase financial self-reliance, for instance by starting fair trade farming projects. Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Our love for independence and self-reliance cannot help but be synchronous with loneliness. Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliance
Noun
  • Sitake’s steadiness helped BYU escape the choppy waters of FBS independence and transition into a Power 4 conference in 2023.
    Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • But excellence and independence are all but impossible to consistently maintain without the steady backing of mentors or salaries, and when the incentives of the internet reward virality no matter how it’s achieved.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Paz favored gradual reform, including tax incentives for small businesses and regional fiscal autonomy, while Quiroga proposed sweeping cuts and an IMF bailout.
    Reuters 3 min ago, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Idaho lawmakers and advocates have stressed that their goals are bodily autonomy and informed choice.
    Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • However, as China ruthlessly pursues independent innovation, domestic substitution of imports has become a policy priority to ensure tech self-sufficiency in critical industries.
    Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Mexico offers a relatively easy path to long-term residency for Americans who can prove financial self-sufficiency.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Self-reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliance. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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