Definition of independencenext
1
as in autonomy
the ability to care for one's self children are supposed to achieve some measure of independence by the time they are 18—so it's time for that 30-year-old to move out!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 independence Kean comes from a long line of public servants, stretching 250 years to the country’s founding when one of his ancestors became New Jersey’s first leader since independence. Mike Catalini, Fortune, 30 June 2026 Rebecca's life has coincided with four decades of progress toward independence for disabled Americans. Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 June 2026 This independence allows many expats to create schedules that better balance work and personal life. Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026 The city does face a possible logjam of events, with World Cup games and celebrations for America's 250th anniversary of independence, a Sail250 maritime gathering – and a wedding that could attract hundreds of fans. Bryan West, USA Today, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for independence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for independence
Noun
  • The First Amendment prohibits such an assault on Gateway's religious autonomy and freedom.
    Giles Hudson, CBS News, 24 June 2026
  • Any other solution, even one motivated by a desire to protect your guests from harm, cannot avoid also looking like an intrusion into personal autonomy and a negative judgment on character.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
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.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • Hernandez frames message sovereignty as the answer to a question every leader needs to sit with.
    Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
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.
    Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • And so really the differences that freedom represents to every American but all represented under that one flag.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Yet the careful reader will appreciate the significance of the Puritan Cromwell’s independency.
    Barton Swaim, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2021
  • 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.
    Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2020
Noun
  • Building proprietary silicon takes years of engineering iteration before a company reaches anything close to self-sufficiency, and the clearest proof is the company furthest along.
    Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • The surge in popularity is driven for a desire for self-sufficiency, supplemental income, and access to fresh food, according to the home garden magazine.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • In a place like Austria, the mountains were the only zone of true freedom and self-reliance.
    William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • Informal economic activity, self-reliance and community connection were vital lifelines.
    Carla Vecchiola, The Conversation, 26 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Independence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/independence. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on independence

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster