1
as in existence
the fact of being or of being real
believes in the subsistence of a soul as a separate entity from the body
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in continuation
uninterrupted or lasting existence
the subsistence of the patient's infection, even after the use of antibiotics, had the doctors puzzled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 subsistence
The same practice that sustains a cosmological language sustains a subsistence economy.
—
María Carri, Artforum, 16 Apr. 2026
Chaiwalas, or street tea venders, have long been taken as emblems of the small-scale entrepreneurialism by which uneducated Indians can gain subsistence, and, in theory, something more.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
However, all over the world and over the course of perhaps 20 generations, most people lived in rural settings, mostly working in subsistence agriculture, and trade was always and everywhere of small scale, as were monetization and market relations.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
The primary threat to the species is from small-scale and subsistence fishing operations, which capture the Ganges shark as bycatch.
—John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subsistence
María Carri, Artforum, 16 Apr. 2026
Chaiwalas, or street tea venders, have long been taken as emblems of the small-scale entrepreneurialism by which uneducated Indians can gain subsistence, and, in theory, something more.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
However, all over the world and over the course of perhaps 20 generations, most people lived in rural settings, mostly working in subsistence agriculture, and trade was always and everywhere of small scale, as were monetization and market relations.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
The primary threat to the species is from small-scale and subsistence fishing operations, which capture the Ganges shark as bycatch.
—John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subsistence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subsistence
Noun
-
And suddenly, digital existence becomes an anomaly.—
Hamilton Mann,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
And the director features prominently, offering his thoughts on the existence of aliens in between footage from the film.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Garcia’s performance was a continuation of outstanding efforts by the senior this season.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
-
However, with additional investment opportunities and alternative revenue streams, the continuation of the tour is still possible.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
For most of the twentieth century, the employment contract relied on the assumption that employment—a paycheck, stability and an implicit promise of continuity—was sufficient to retain talent.—
Sheila Callaham,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
What was originally an environmental sustainability play now looks like an extremely wise business continuity move.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
After recently failing to obtain a five-month continuance of his trial, Kapoor’s defense lawyers — Don Samuel, Jane Raskin and Fred Schwartz — quickly pivoted to working out the plea deal with federal prosecutors.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
After a not guilty plea and two years of continuances, his state trial was scheduled to begin on January 26 but has been delayed again, according to court records.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
However, persistence becomes problematic when PFAS leach or evaporate out of products and into the surrounding environment.—
Carrie McDonough,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
-
The movie is more than a celebration of persistence in the face of rejection, of faith in oneself, or of the power of love.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The company’s lead drug is a once-daily pill for advanced prostate cancer that cements the male hormone receptor present in prostate cancer to another protein essential for cell survival, gumming up its function and causing the cancer cells to die.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
-
LiPfe was directly sucking nutrients from the surrounding seawater to fuel its tissue repair and survival.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subsistence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subsistence. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
