as in independent
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help
a surprisingly calm and self-reliant child
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Recent Examples of self-reliant
The inner canyon is expected to reach 100 degrees, so park rangers advised visitors to avoid hiking in the canyon during the hottest parts of the day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Park rangers also said hikers and backpackers should be self-reliant in case of emergencies.
—
Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2025
Backpacking, unlike camping, requires you to be entirely self-reliant.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
Mayors from northern Front Range cities recently went to Washington, D.C., and met with senior federal transportation officials, united in their support for re-launching passenger trains and the state’s self-reliant approach.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 11 May 2025
The government’s decision to expedite the launch comes as the country seeks to be more self-reliant in moving exports via air.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-reliant
Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2025
Backpacking, unlike camping, requires you to be entirely self-reliant.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
Mayors from northern Front Range cities recently went to Washington, D.C., and met with senior federal transportation officials, united in their support for re-launching passenger trains and the state’s self-reliant approach.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 11 May 2025
The government’s decision to expedite the launch comes as the country seeks to be more self-reliant in moving exports via air.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-reliant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-reliant
independent
Adjective
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Eventually the archipelago was divided, with the western islands becoming the independent nation of Samoa and the eastern ones becoming American Samoa, overseen by the Navy.—
Mark Thiessen,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
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However, as explained in the report and supported by analyses from independent investigators (including the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine), the facility was functioning as a hospital at the time, and there was no military target in its vicinity.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-reliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-reliant. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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