as in independence
the ability to care for one's self
some people don't achieve self-reliance until they're over 30 years old
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-reliance
Since 2018, Xi has set aside integration and made self-reliance the organizing principle of China’s national strategy.
—
Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Beijing is moving to limit any H200 inflow despite Washington’s approval, according to the Financial Times—an unmistakable signal that self-reliance beats convenience.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Written by bandmembers Wharff, Ryan Atchison and Garrett Howell, this song makes a stark reflection on the futility of self-reliance, while expressing gratefulness to a higher power for renewal.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2025
This quest for self-reliance is not just about economics but explicitly tied to national security.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Beijing is moving to limit any H200 inflow despite Washington’s approval, according to the Financial Times—an unmistakable signal that self-reliance beats convenience.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Written by bandmembers Wharff, Ryan Atchison and Garrett Howell, this song makes a stark reflection on the futility of self-reliance, while expressing gratefulness to a higher power for renewal.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2025
This quest for self-reliance is not just about economics but explicitly tied to national security.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliance
Noun
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As this brief survey suggests, the patriots’ success in drawing foreign partners into the war was essential to achieving American independence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The forest for the trees Nestled between China, India and Thailand, Myanmar gained independence from Britain in 1948 but came under military dictatorship in 1962.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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It is built for continuous operation, with a 4-hour battery and hot-swappable autonomy.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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In the aftermath, Venezuelan society became further split between the wealthy, who wanted to work with the US, and the working class, who sought autonomy from the US.—
James Trapani,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Although some driverless taxi services, such as Waymo, function at Level 4, Tensor’s product would likely be the first private car at this level of self-sufficiency.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Dec. 2025
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The project, which aims to produce working chips by 2028, marks a major breakthrough in Beijing’s quest for semiconductor self-sufficiency, described by some as China’s own Manhattan Project.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
19 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliance. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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