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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 autonomy
Organizations must know where AI is used, with which data and with what level of autonomy.
—
Stephane Gervais,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Under the right conditions, what begins as a trade-off can become a reinforcing cycle in which growth, autonomy and sustainability support one another.
—
Sebastian Buckup,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
In this way, immigration enforcement policy thwarts reproductive autonomy.
—
Jallicia Jolly,
The Conversation,
15 June 2026
Is the art work, with its autonomy and silence, the only place where individual reality can be safely revealed?
—
Rachel Cusk,
New Yorker,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for autonomy
Stephane Gervais,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Under the right conditions, what begins as a trade-off can become a reinforcing cycle in which growth, autonomy and sustainability support one another.
—
Sebastian Buckup,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
In this way, immigration enforcement policy thwarts reproductive autonomy.
—
Jallicia Jolly,
The Conversation,
15 June 2026
Is the art work, with its autonomy and silence, the only place where individual reality can be safely revealed?
—
Rachel Cusk,
New Yorker,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for autonomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autonomy
Noun
-
Miltos’ Greek Table at Andronis Luxury Suites is the Oia choice for travelers who want romance.
-
Vic makes some baffling choices here, buzzing in twice on the first word in the series without hearing the rest, and getting eliminated from multiple rounds five seconds in.
Noun
-
Unlike the 13 colonies that declared independence from Britain, both Florida colonies remained loyal to the British Crown throughout the American Revolution, according to historian and author Mike Bunn.
-
The marker commemorates those who fought for independence in the Revolutionary War.
Noun
-
Hezbollah denounces the deal as a threat to Lebanese sovereignty, while Israeli leaders vow not to cede ‘a millimeter’ until the group is fully disarmed.
-
Hernandez frames message sovereignty as the answer to a question every leader needs to sit with.
Noun
-
Both countries have stepped up efforts to safeguard freedom of navigation and uphold international law in the strait, including hosting a summit with 51 other nations in April.
-
And so really the differences that freedom represents to every American but all represented under that one flag.
Noun
-
Yet the careful reader will appreciate the significance of the Puritan Cromwell’s independency.
-
His seemingly daily attacks on freedom of speech, the independency of the judiciary, the right to vote and other pillars of our constitutional system are bolstered by an intensely loyal fan base.
Cite this Entry
“Autonomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autonomy. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
