as in independent
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help
a surprisingly calm and self-reliant child
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Recent Examples of self-reliant
Overlanding is a form of self-reliant travel that involves adventuring to remote destinations, typically in a vehicle of some type.
—
Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 19 July 2025
Whether in rural communities in the U.S., industrial cities in the United Kingdom, or towns in Africa, the message is similar that men should be strong, silent and self-reliant.
—Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2025
Born on a New York farm in 1821, Youmans didn’t come from a notable family or attend elite schools —his name even derives from yeoman, a self-reliant commoner.
—Sabrina Schaeffer, Oc Register, 4 July 2025
With ample resources to mine and refine within its own borders, the United States has the capacity to become more self-reliant with respect to critical metals, including rare earths.
—Damien Ma, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-reliant
Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 19 July 2025
Whether in rural communities in the U.S., industrial cities in the United Kingdom, or towns in Africa, the message is similar that men should be strong, silent and self-reliant.
—Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2025
Born on a New York farm in 1821, Youmans didn’t come from a notable family or attend elite schools —his name even derives from yeoman, a self-reliant commoner.
—Sabrina Schaeffer, Oc Register, 4 July 2025
With ample resources to mine and refine within its own borders, the United States has the capacity to become more self-reliant with respect to critical metals, including rare earths.
—Damien Ma, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-reliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliant
independent
Adjective
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This gives us the opportunity to chart our own path forward, create distinct brand identities, and establish an independent news organization following the spin.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
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The selection of the timely film, which will soon premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, was made by an independent committee of Palestinian film professionals and confirmed by the Palestinian Ministry of Culture.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-reliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliant. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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