as in independence
the ability to care for one's self
the goal of the program is to help these people achieve self-subsistence and to end their dependence on government aid
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Recent Examples of self-subsistence
Pavas were often worn by jibaros, which were rural residents who worked on the island as self-subsistence farmers.
—
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-subsistence
Noun
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The integrity, independence, and diversity of our industry would be grievously compromised.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
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No company embodies the American ideas of freedom, independence, perseverance and individuality more than Harley-Davidson.—
Ricardo Torres,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Beiruty follows Andrea across seven years, threading stop-motion animation through a sustained dialogue with her subject about autonomy, compromise and self-determination.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
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The report arrives as Yale and its Ivy League peers are under pressure from multiple directions — not just a skeptical public, but a federal government that has used funding as a direct lever against campus autonomy.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-subsistence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-subsistence. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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