Synonyms of autonomous

autonomous

adjective

ȯ-ˈtä-nə-məs 

as in independent

not being under the rule or control of another

Native American nations are regarded as autonomous in many respects and thus not subject to a number of state and local laws

Synonyms & Similar Words

• independent
• sovereign
• separate
• self-governing
• self-governed
• freestanding
• democratic
• sovran
• self-ruling
• free
• liberated
• empowered
• emancipated
• freeborn
• unsupervised
• freed
• released
• republican
• redeemed
• delivered
• unruled
• unconquered
• manumitted
• enfranchised

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dependent
• subject
• nonautonomous
• unfree
• captive
• subjugated
• subdued
• bound
• enslaved
• conquered
• subordinate
• non-self-governing
• fettered
• subservient
• inferior

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective autonomous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of autonomous are free, independent, and sovereign. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

When might free be a better fit than autonomous?

While the synonyms free and autonomous are close in meaning, 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 is it sensible to use independent instead of autonomous?

The synonyms independent and autonomous are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When would sovereign be a good substitute for autonomous?

The words sovereign and autonomous can be used in similar contexts, 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

Recent Examples of autonomous

Last April, Musk said Tesla was on track to spend $10 billion on autonomous cars by the end of the year. —Robert Ferris, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025

Read more Joe Rogan Rihanna Announcement Sends Internet Into Meltdown Lady Gaga's Fiancé's Reaction to Her Coachella Performance Caught on Camera Currently, Tesla's FSD mode is supervised, meaning the vehicle is not fully autonomous. —Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025

Its latest creation is an autonomous humanoid robot that can mimic human emotions and behaviors in real time. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 13 Apr. 2025

Trump's ambitions aren't far-fetched, according to an international relations expert who told ABC News that there are some avenues in which the U.S. could realistically acquire the autonomous Danish territory. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2025