as in independent
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help
with its own farm, the estate was largely self-sustaining
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Recent Examples of self-sustaining
For this, researchers from China have developed various next-generation triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which offer a self-sustaining power solution for marine regions.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
Leading to a self-sustaining economic loop where revenue generated from global-facing media products is reinvested directly into local wages, taxes, and services, fostering a stable foundation for multi-generational upward mobility.
—Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Billionaire Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with the vision of paving the way to create a self-sustaining colony on the Red Planet.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
There’s no way to know which push was most important in the flywheel reaching this self-sustaining velocity.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
However, bacterial cells typically limit their production to self-sustaining levels.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
While self-sustaining travel to Mars is still a few years away, the new brine processor on the ISS has increased the water recovery rate enough that this 98% goal is now in reach.
—Berrin Tansel, The Conversation, 30 July 2025
In addition to its momentum and self-sustaining nature, drive has another advantage over motivation: It can be developed and strengthened over time.
—Ryan McGrath, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
Significantly, some states had self-sustaining populations of wild turkeys that could serve as seed stock.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2023
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
Leading to a self-sustaining economic loop where revenue generated from global-facing media products is reinvested directly into local wages, taxes, and services, fostering a stable foundation for multi-generational upward mobility.
—Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Billionaire Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with the vision of paving the way to create a self-sustaining colony on the Red Planet.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
There’s no way to know which push was most important in the flywheel reaching this self-sustaining velocity.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
However, bacterial cells typically limit their production to self-sustaining levels.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
While self-sustaining travel to Mars is still a few years away, the new brine processor on the ISS has increased the water recovery rate enough that this 98% goal is now in reach.
—Berrin Tansel, The Conversation, 30 July 2025
In addition to its momentum and self-sustaining nature, drive has another advantage over motivation: It can be developed and strengthened over time.
—Ryan McGrath, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
Significantly, some states had self-sustaining populations of wild turkeys that could serve as seed stock.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-sustaining
independent
Adjective
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There aren’t many tours available, so an excursion to the castle is most likely going to be an independent adventure.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
-
However, as China ruthlessly pursues independent innovation, domestic substitution of imports has become a policy priority to ensure tech self-sufficiency in critical industries.—
Ni Tao,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-sustaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-sustaining. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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