as in independence
the ability to care for one's self
encouraged her children to develop self-dependence at a relatively early age a level of self-dependence rarely seen in teens
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Recent Examples of self-dependence
As Locke put it in his essay, this was a period of renewal, of self-respect, and of self-dependence among Black people.
—
Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2024
Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-dependence
Noun
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Elder law experts warn that the best protection against uncertainty, exploitation or government infringement of your independence is to plan ahead, early and often.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Her journey takes her to the soirées of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love and reinvention.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As Fortune reported in January, many workers whose productivity has genuinely improved with AI still describe a quiet sense of loss—of craft, of autonomy, of the slower rhythms that once defined skilled work.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
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Too, though the Basque Country is today is fully integrated into Spain, while retaining a great deal of autonomy, as well as its unique language and culture, the region’s relationship with the Iberian nation is shadowed by its history as the home of terrorist organization ETA.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-dependence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-dependence. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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