Definition of self-supportnext
as in independence
the ability to care for one's self hopes to achieve full self-support within a year of graduating from college

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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-support Garmire has been setting FKTs for more than a decade, with career highlights including unsupported or self-supported records on the John Muir Trail in California, Vermont’s Long Trail, the Colorado Trail, the Wonderland Trail in Washington, and the Arizona Trail. — Outside, 26 Sep. 2025 In one show of self-support, the supplies store that many of the RAD’s artists used — Cheap Joe’s — has been taken over, renamed and reopened by a new couple, Philip and Tina DeAngelo, who already owned a studio in the RAD. — Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025 And for the public, keep it to low-risk self-support — journaling prompts, CBT-style reflections and light coaching — wrapped in clear disclaimers and with instant handoffs to a human whenever risk appears. — John Samuels, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025 But the idea of hiking the PCT self-supported has been percolating for about five years. — Emily Lapointe, Outside Online, 1 May 2025 Since the self-support era, Tokyo has introduced at least one new plan a decade to improve rural development. — Fritz Schumann, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-support
Noun
  • His administration says the arch would commemorate 250 years of American independence.
    — Donald Trump, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • There always lingers the question of statehood, which exists alongside the island’s long-standing and active independence movement.
    — Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The robot’s initial deployment model combines human supervision with progressive automation rather than requiring complete autonomy before entering a factory.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2026
  • One misconception about enterprise AI is that autonomy reduces people’s importance.
    — Kumar Chivukula, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Despite China’s efforts to boost semiconductor self-sufficiency, domestic tech firms’ immense demand for compute has led to a shortage, prompting them to ramp up imports.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The various reasons why a woman may want to learn how to shoot a gun and harvest her own meat vary person-to-person, of course, with self-sufficiency and empowerment among them.
    — Heide Brandes, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Self-support.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-support. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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