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
Competition, alliances, and egos collide as this group puts public reputations on the line, testing players’ self-reliance, problem-solving, and grit, per the logline.
—
Peter White, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Each effort strengthened his instincts for initiative and self-reliance.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Your Next Move Charlotte’s active community already has the discipline, self-reliance, and love of exploration that solo travel demands.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
The family’s thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2020 wasn’t too big of a change for the kids, who were already used to homeschooling and self-reliance.
—David Gleisner, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Peter White, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026
Each effort strengthened his instincts for initiative and self-reliance.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Your Next Move Charlotte’s active community already has the discipline, self-reliance, and love of exploration that solo travel demands.
—Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
The family’s thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2020 wasn’t too big of a change for the kids, who were already used to homeschooling and self-reliance.
—David Gleisner, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliance
Noun
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But the king is expected to express the highest regard and friendship between the two countries on the 250th anniversary year of independence, creating what the palace called one of the greatest alliances in human history.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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The occasion was one of many events this year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence from Britain, and this one was an address from the reigning British monarch.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The broader strategy envisions widespread robotic integration across grid operations, with increasing autonomy over the coming years, positioning the sector as a major testbed for large-scale, real-world AI adoption, reports Robo Horizon.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
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The album, which was built around live instrumentation, also heralds Staples’ new era as one of newfound autonomy.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But for all its 21st-century self-sufficiency, the house remains grounded in the site’s long history.—
Nick Mafi,
Architectural Digest,
29 Apr. 2026
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After decades of broken promises from federal and state governments for basic services, the resort represents a step toward economic self-sufficiency for the tribe, Tarango said.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliance. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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