as in independent
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help
each new colony was expected to develop a self-sustained economy
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Recent Examples of self-sustained
The 24-hectare base is a large and self-sustained compound, according to 2023 U.S. military documents detailing the facilities.
—
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Completely self-sustained, the brothers, Lotia writes in her book, are not just potters, but make a living as farmers as well.
—Sonya Rehman, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Completely self-sustained, the brothers, Lotia writes in her book, are not just potters, but make a living as farmers as well.
—Sonya Rehman, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-sustained
independent
Adjective
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Despite being part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, the energy reads independent and design-forward.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
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Briefs are for businesses in Northwest Arkansas that are new, have moved or closed, opened a new branch, changed owners or have been honored by an independent organization.—
Mark Mondier,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-sustained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-sustained. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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