variants also dependance
Definition of dependencenext
1
as in dependency
the quality or state of needing something or someone a baby's total dependence upon his or her parents for every one of life's needs

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2
as in reliance
something or someone to which one looks for support ultimately rice became the chief dependence in that state

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3
as in addiction
a physiological need for certain drugs acquired a dependence on prescription painkillers following back surgery

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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 dependence Rather, there are distinct trajectories, driven by energy dependence, fiscal pressures, governance and stability. Ezgi Canpolat, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026 In this sense, minimal ownership might allow for adaptability and less dependence on economic trends. Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026 Experts say African countries are critically integrated into global economies and are exposed to global shocks because of their dependence on major economies. ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026 Evolution has built dependence on wheat, corn, and rice into some human DNA. Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dependence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dependence
Noun
  • In the Middle East, Western imperial powers helped engineer a geopolitical order built on instability, mistrust, extraction and armed dependency.
    Mehrnoush Soroush, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
  • With longer mission lifespans and reduced dependency on fuel, satellite operators can lower costs and improve efficiency.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The company’s reliance on coal has fallen significantly in the past decade.
    Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the study found that reliance on Graduate PLUS loans — the program being eliminated that has often helped students fill in gaps like living expenses — is going up.
    Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • For one, prediction markets affect people similarly from a behavioral standpoint, according to gambling addiction researchers and advocacy groups such as the National Council on Problem Gambling.
    Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Written by Mescudi, Doe explores themes of addiction and survival through the lens of a man living on the streets of Hollywood who, over the course of 24 hours, drifts through a series of encounters that pull him in and out of the cycles of his compulsion.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Without an anchor point, the atoms migrated away instead of forming a short circuit, preventing device failure even at extreme temperatures.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Mule Alley opened in the summer of 2020 after the Stockyards ownership group spent years converting the historic livestock barns into upscale restaurants, boutiques and bars — with the luxury Hotel Drover as an anchor.
    Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • However, ethanol has become the backbone of the daily commute.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Just about any thick, flavorful sauce will work with this technique, but the lingering heat and sweet backbone of the black pepper sauce below pairs particularly well with pork chops.
    Kate Williams, AJC.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Markets now price in a greater chance of rate hikes by year-end than cuts, according to CME’s FedWatch tool, removing what had been a key pillar of the bull case for growth stocks.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
  • The upside of being a pillar in more titles as the Falcons move to 5A is high.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But where other comics might lean on quantity as a crutch to compensate for quality, Kashian genuinely just has this much to say.
    Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
  • This graying bachelor falls for his patient, a high schooler named Sophie (Brianna Joy Chomer) and, when rejected, threatens to clobber her disabled boyfriend (Carson Boatman) with the guy’s own crutch.
    Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Cole's French Dip, the downtown Los Angeles mainstay that claims to be the longest-running restaurant in the city, will permanently close on Sunday night – really, this time.
    Austin Turner, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Poor planning about what effect these wars will have and fake reasons to go to war are a part of the mainstay.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dependence. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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