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
Your Next Move Charlotte’s active community already has the discipline, self-reliance, and love of exploration that solo travel demands.
—
Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
The family’s thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2020 wasn’t too big of a change for the kids, who were already used to homeschooling and self-reliance.
—David Gleisner, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
As ever, Finland must hedge its bets with a strong dose of self-reliance — this time backed by a wider set of European countries growing more willing to do the same.
—Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
Beijing’s decision to double down on self-reliance underscores the urgency of weaning itself off Western technology.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
The family’s thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2020 wasn’t too big of a change for the kids, who were already used to homeschooling and self-reliance.
—David Gleisner, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
As ever, Finland must hedge its bets with a strong dose of self-reliance — this time backed by a wider set of European countries growing more willing to do the same.
—Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
Beijing’s decision to double down on self-reliance underscores the urgency of weaning itself off Western technology.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliance
Noun
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But the king is expected to express the highest regard and friendship between the two countries on the 250th anniversary year of independence, creating what the palace called one of the greatest alliances in human history.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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The occasion was one of many events this year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence from Britain, and this one was an address from the reigning British monarch.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The broader strategy envisions widespread robotic integration across grid operations, with increasing autonomy over the coming years, positioning the sector as a major testbed for large-scale, real-world AI adoption, reports Robo Horizon.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
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The album, which was built around live instrumentation, also heralds Staples’ new era as one of newfound autonomy.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote unveiled plans to build a crude oil refinery in Tanzania that would replicate the output of his giant plant in Lagos to leverage continent-wide calls for greater self-sufficiency after the Iran war exposed Africa’s vulnerabilities.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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The project is solar-powered and nearing self-sufficiency.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliance. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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