1
as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions
the director agreed to make the film only on the condition that she be given complete autonomy for the casting
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in independence
the state of being free from the control or power of another
finding the mother country's treatment of them oppressive and intolerable, the 13 British colonies made the momentous decision to seek autonomy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of autonomy
But unlike college athletes, professionals are represented by labor unions and have more autonomy over their medical decisions.
—
Billy Witz, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Respect their autonomy while staying emotionally available Occasionally, in an effort to respect their adult child’s autonomy, parents will go in the opposite direction, by taking a totally hands-off approach to help their kids make choices and work through conflicts.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 13 Feb. 2025
Lack of autonomy is stifling, preventing educators from implementing creative solutions and tailoring lessons to meet the diverse needs of their students.
—Gqlshare, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
Blanchard has more autonomy in Lubbock than some NFL general managers.
—Pete Sampson, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autonomy
Billy Witz, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Respect their autonomy while staying emotionally available Occasionally, in an effort to respect their adult child’s autonomy, parents will go in the opposite direction, by taking a totally hands-off approach to help their kids make choices and work through conflicts.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 13 Feb. 2025
Lack of autonomy is stifling, preventing educators from implementing creative solutions and tailoring lessons to meet the diverse needs of their students.
—Gqlshare, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
Blanchard has more autonomy in Lubbock than some NFL general managers.
—Pete Sampson, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autonomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autonomy
Noun
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Quinn Hughes, the choice to replace him, is not with Team USA due to some light chaos with Hughes’ NHL team, the Vancouver Canucks.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
20 Feb. 2025
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There are so many great options to choose from that in the end, this choice purely comes down to preference.—
Derek Horner,
Outdoor Life,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Thirty years earlier, in 1995, on the weekend before Quebec’s second referendum on independence, my family and I went to Montreal to wander the city, to try to sense what Quebeckers were feeling, but mostly just to be there.—
Ken Dryden,
The Atlantic,
23 Feb. 2025
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The Federal Reserve’s independence from the White House has long been enshrined in the law.—
Colby Smith,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Many Americans and policymakers across the political spectrum view Russia's February 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine as an attack on Ukrainian sovereignty and believe Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to be reined in.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
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For months, Trump and his inner circle had demurred and speculated over the start and hypothetical end of the war in Ukraine, and displayed an indifference to Kyiv’s sovereignty that signaled a jarring shift in policy was coming.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Other democracies will no longer see the United States as a reliable partner in protecting freedom and peace.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
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Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.—
Ethan Stone,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This visit was very important signal for our partners that Kyiv, much more safety right now, and also very important signal that Great Britain stay together with Ukraine, support Ukraine -- support our country in the fight for our freedom, for our independency.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2022
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Yet the careful reader will appreciate the significance of the Puritan Cromwell’s independency.—
Barton Swaim,
WSJ,
27 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Autonomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autonomy. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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