as in independent
able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help
with its own farm, the estate was largely self-sustaining
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Recent Examples of self-sustaining
For this, researchers from China have developed various next-generation triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which offer a self-sustaining power solution for marine regions.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
Leading to a self-sustaining economic loop where revenue generated from global-facing media products is reinvested directly into local wages, taxes, and services, fostering a stable foundation for multi-generational upward mobility.
—Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Billionaire Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with the vision of paving the way to create a self-sustaining colony on the Red Planet.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
There’s no way to know which push was most important in the flywheel reaching this self-sustaining velocity.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
However, bacterial cells typically limit their production to self-sustaining levels.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
While self-sustaining travel to Mars is still a few years away, the new brine processor on the ISS has increased the water recovery rate enough that this 98% goal is now in reach.
—Berrin Tansel, The Conversation, 30 July 2025
In addition to its momentum and self-sustaining nature, drive has another advantage over motivation: It can be developed and strengthened over time.
—Ryan McGrath, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
Significantly, some states had self-sustaining populations of wild turkeys that could serve as seed stock.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2023
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
Leading to a self-sustaining economic loop where revenue generated from global-facing media products is reinvested directly into local wages, taxes, and services, fostering a stable foundation for multi-generational upward mobility.
—Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Billionaire Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 with the vision of paving the way to create a self-sustaining colony on the Red Planet.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
There’s no way to know which push was most important in the flywheel reaching this self-sustaining velocity.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
However, bacterial cells typically limit their production to self-sustaining levels.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
While self-sustaining travel to Mars is still a few years away, the new brine processor on the ISS has increased the water recovery rate enough that this 98% goal is now in reach.
—Berrin Tansel, The Conversation, 30 July 2025
In addition to its momentum and self-sustaining nature, drive has another advantage over motivation: It can be developed and strengthened over time.
—Ryan McGrath, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
Significantly, some states had self-sustaining populations of wild turkeys that could serve as seed stock.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-sustaining
independent
Adjective
-
Charter schools are overseen by independent boards, overwhelmingly, like nonprofit boards of directors that manage the oversight and then follow all or most of the same government rules related to public schools.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Employers increasingly wonder whether campuses are cultivating independent thinkers or just cautious followers.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-sustaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-sustaining. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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