1
as in anchor
something or someone to which one looks for support
he's been the family's foremost reliance in times of trouble many times
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in dependency
the quality or state of needing something or someone
a baby's reliance on her parents his reliance on his next-door neighbor for all the local gossip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reliance
These investments will reduce reliance on landfilling and waste-to-energy, while moving Broward toward a more sustainable economic future.
—
Mike Ryan, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Over time, maintaining cleaner air can help reduce allergy flare-ups and other respiratory issues, potentially leading to lower medical expenses and a reduced reliance on ongoing treatments.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
In the ’90s, Garber developed a reputation for intellectual risk-taking with a series of psychoanalytically inflected books on topics including cross-dressing, real estate, and Americans’ reliance on dogs for unconditional love.
—Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
From the 1950s, marketing began to shift its reliance partially away from economics and toward other academic disciplines, mainly the behavioral sciences, including sociology, anthropology, and psychology.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reliance
Mike Ryan, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Over time, maintaining cleaner air can help reduce allergy flare-ups and other respiratory issues, potentially leading to lower medical expenses and a reduced reliance on ongoing treatments.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
In the ’90s, Garber developed a reputation for intellectual risk-taking with a series of psychoanalytically inflected books on topics including cross-dressing, real estate, and Americans’ reliance on dogs for unconditional love.
—Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
From the 1950s, marketing began to shift its reliance partially away from economics and toward other academic disciplines, mainly the behavioral sciences, including sociology, anthropology, and psychology.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reliance
Noun
-
The National Mall and Lincoln Memorial anchor an outdoor collection of monuments, while the National Museum of African American History & Culture traces slavery, emancipation, the Civil Rights movement and African American achievement in sports, music and government.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
As part of its investment, IBM’s FutureNow Chicago delivery center will become an anchor tenant at the IQMP’s Quantum Works building, which is expected to be completed by 2028.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His mental health has severely deteriorated, his financial situation is terrible, and his drug dependency is at its worst.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The developer just adds it to their dependencies and calls a function to wrap the key.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some backbone and detail on issues such as water, immigration and the role of money in politics could help elevate the conversation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Cotton is the backbone of Levi’s business.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s first term was marked—and, in the view of those closest to him, limited—by its dependence on Administration officials who were, at best, skeptical of his aims.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
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High oil prices strengthen the case for renewable energy and reduce dependence on volatile supply routes.—
Fabiano Maisonnave,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Downriver from the Shoshone Falls are the Pillar Falls, a low waterfall split by rock pillars.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
-
As their mutual competitiveness grows shockingly ugly, Niall learns to turn Ruben’s Samsonian strength and fury against him, knocking down the pillars of Ruben’s own life.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reliance. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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