Definition of reliancenext
1
as in anchor
something or someone to which one looks for support he's been the family's foremost reliance in times of trouble many times

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in dependency
the quality or state of needing something or someone a baby's reliance on her parents his reliance on his next-door neighbor for all the local gossip

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 reliance In parallel with these efforts, Aurora Water has taken a strategic approach to securing future supplies by prioritizing water rights that are nearly fully reusable, allowing limited resources to go further while reducing reliance on new raw water sources. Mike Coffman, Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2026 Its reliance on Western hardware has left Ukrainians unprotected. Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026 Iran's reliance on ballistic missiles as the central pillar of its military strategy dates back to its war with Iraq in the 1980s. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026 At the same time, progress in robotics has made surgery more precise while reducing reliance on costly skilled labor. Chris Pope, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reliance
Noun
  • In the search for their mother, the NBC anchor and her siblings have issued emotional public statements asking for her safety and to bring her back home.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
  • This is a Michelin Key property where reclaimed water tower wood warms the walls, James Beard–award-winning cuisine anchors evenings, and Central Park unfolds just beyond those sculptural wooden doors.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In multiple phone calls from jail, Nathan Gingles discussed the dependency court case, asking his friend in Texas to pass along information and criticizing Mary’s sister, who was fighting for custody against Schuler.
    Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
  • There’s no magic fix for Bill’s sadness, nor his drug dependency for many years.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Harris and Wu would continue and broaden the party’s outreach to white suburban women, which has been a backbone for Democrats since the election.
    Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Revolutionizing the backbone of America Emanate targets the industrial materials sector—a $5 trillion market comprising distributors, service centers, and suppliers.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • India does have plans to reduce its dependence.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Instead of running everything through massive centralized models, enterprises are distributing intelligence by blending foundational models with small language models, reducing hyperscaler dependence and optimizing performance for specific, local environments.
    Abhas Ricky, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Today, only one reconstructed pillar remains at the original temple site, located outside of the main archaeological park.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Another pillar of Malaysia’s industrial push is the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ), launched to attract high-tech investment along the border.
    Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reliance. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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