as in independent
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help
a surprisingly calm and self-reliant child
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-reliant
By moving the economy up the value chain, Beijing hopes to escape the middle-income trap and cement its status as a self-reliant tech superpower.
—
Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
Philippine industries would receive technology transfers to strengthen the country's self-reliant defense capability.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
This self-reliant rebel ideology is what makes skate culture iconic and connects the sport with punk music.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
As a result, the films made during Nkrumah’s time were ordered to be burned, his name struck from Ghanaian classrooms and his monumental efforts to build a self-reliant and culturally sovereign Africa were silenced.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-reliant
Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
Philippine industries would receive technology transfers to strengthen the country's self-reliant defense capability.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
This self-reliant rebel ideology is what makes skate culture iconic and connects the sport with punk music.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
As a result, the films made during Nkrumah’s time were ordered to be burned, his name struck from Ghanaian classrooms and his monumental efforts to build a self-reliant and culturally sovereign Africa were silenced.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-reliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliant
independent
Adjective
-
The movies at Sundance Film Festival's swan song in Park City, Utah, were very on theme for the event, celebrating independent cinema with familiar faces in challenging fare, quirky examinations of youth and fascinating documentaries.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The General Services Administration, an independent agency that manages federal buildings, has reached out to Fort Lauderdale to see if there’s any interest in purchasing the property, city officials say.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-reliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliant. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
