Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective independent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of independent are autonomous, free, and sovereign. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.

the colony's struggle to become independent

Where would autonomous be a reasonable alternative to independent?

Although the words autonomous and independent have much in common, autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

When can free be used instead of independent?

While in some cases nearly identical to independent, free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.

you're free to do as you like

When could sovereign be used to replace independent?

The synonyms sovereign and independent are sometimes interchangeable, but sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.

separate and sovereign armed services

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 independent Signatory countries ensure compliance with automotive design and safety standards, and allow the independent crash testing of motor vehicles. Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025 At Card Home for the Aged, which caters to independent retirees who can pretty much take care of themselves and are in good health, opportunities abound to socialize and get out of the room. Joshua Zatulskis, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2025 Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 25 May 2025 The independent power producer owns a generation portfolio of 41 gigawatts, including6.5 gigawatts of nuclear. Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for independent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for independent
Adjective
  • Latinum, the second-place winner, provides payment middleware enabling Model Context Protocol builders to monetize their services, allowing AI agents to manage budgets and make autonomous payments.
    Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • Baku, for its part, now positioned itself as a more autonomous actor, capable of engaging with Russia, Turkey, and the West on its own terms.
    Zaur Shiriyev, Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • Preventing germs from taking over your cookout To prevent bacteria in raw meat from contaminating other foods, use one cutting board or plate for raw meat, poultry and seafood and a separate one for produce, bread, and other foods that won't be cooked, the CDC suggests.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • Gutierrez-Reed will serve her year-long parole at home, where she will also be supervised after pleading guilty to a separate charge of unlawfully carrying a gun into a bar.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • Climate change means new hurricane threats Climate change makes powerful storms more common, in part because sea surface temperatures are abnormally high in the part of the Atlantic where hurricanes form, and in the Gulf of Mexico where many hurricanes gather strength before hitting land.
    Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 22 May 2025
  • The grounds are expansive and impeccably maintained, and Memorial Day ceremonies here are among the most powerful in the state.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Chicago Tribune Is the Vatican considered a sovereign nation?
    Russ Bynum, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
  • Documents distributed by Qatari foreign agents working for Venable, for instance, talk up what Qatar views as the positive effects of investments made by its sovereign wealth fund while downplaying the Gulf nation’s links to terrorist organizations.
    Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • While the new directives have provisions to increase domestic uranium production, establishing a self-sufficient supply chain will require significant time and investment, potentially delaying reactor deployments.
    Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • The submersible, like a submarine, is meant to take people under water, but is smaller and less self-sufficient than military-grade submarines.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • Beijing's Choice China's goal is to be not only self-reliant, but also relied upon by the world.
    John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • Saturn is a dominant planet that likes to take charge and Aries is the zodiac sign that is self-reliant.
    Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
Adjective
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 27 May 2025
  • Sign up here to receive The Athletic’s free daily NFL newsletter in your inbox.
    Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Independent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/independent. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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