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
Fire Point’s work forms part of a broader effort to create a self-reliant strike capability capable of sustaining high-tempo operations against Russia’s forces.
—
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
As an industrious and self-reliant senior, Ringwald essentially baby-sits her chronically myopic father (Harry Dean Stanton), sews her own clothes and contends with the condescension of her patrician peers.
—Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
Aatmanirbhar Bharat, meaning self-reliant India, is a key policy for Modi aimed at transforming the country into one that’s no longer dependent on the outside world for technology and manufacturing.
—Aishwarya S Iyer, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
The spending is based on forecasts that imports will continue to grow faster than the US economy as a whole, and that Trump’s push to make America more self-reliant won’t change that.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-reliant
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
As an industrious and self-reliant senior, Ringwald essentially baby-sits her chronically myopic father (Harry Dean Stanton), sews her own clothes and contends with the condescension of her patrician peers.
—Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
Aatmanirbhar Bharat, meaning self-reliant India, is a key policy for Modi aimed at transforming the country into one that’s no longer dependent on the outside world for technology and manufacturing.
—Aishwarya S Iyer, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
The spending is based on forecasts that imports will continue to grow faster than the US economy as a whole, and that Trump’s push to make America more self-reliant won’t change that.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-reliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliant
independent
Adjective
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Cepeda has advocated for a more independent foreign policy and greater Latin American integration, while right-wing candidates Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia have argued for closer alignment with Washington on security and economic issues.—
Sebastian Jimenez,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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Local businesses, such as independent coffee shops, small law or accounting firms, boutique fitness studios, and neighborhood landscaping companies, often have job openings.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-reliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliant. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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