SELF-RELIANT Synonyms: 24 Similar and Opposite Words

self-reliant

adjective

ˌself-ri-ˈlī-ənt

Definition of self-reliant next

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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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 It's been very important to me to be strong and self-reliant, and to constantly be growing. —

Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for self-reliant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliant

independent

Adjective

As talented journalists go independent on Substack and YouTube and other legacy publications like The New York Times lean into personalization in nearly every element of their business, The Economist has resisted change.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 23 Feb. 2026
With an independent test data set for release, the coming weeks may determine whether Donut Lab’s claims mark a genuine breakthrough or another chapter in the long and difficult quest to commercialize solid-state batteries.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026