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 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 Matthew Fox, the Golden Globe-winning star of Lost (2004–2010), will play Paul, who's characterized as an outdoorsman and self-reliant bachelor. —

Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026 Another big driver of the surplus is China’s relatively low imports as Beijing pushes for an economy that’s self-reliant. —

Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for self-reliant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliant

independent

Adjective

No candidate has drawn even 20% of voters’ support in independent polling.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
But even a young woman struggling with the patriarchal conundrum of cool-girl syndrome (to be independent and accepted) might reveal more of a snappish turn of mind than Grace does.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026