SELF-SUFFICIENCY Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

self-sufficiency

noun

ˌself-sə-ˈfi-shən(t)-sē

Definition of self-sufficiency

as in independence

the ability to care for one's self self-sufficiency is a goal that all teenagers should work towards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 self-sufficiency Five African heads of state inaugurated on Wednesday a $16-billion oil refinery project in East Africa, following calls for the continent to boost its self-sufficiency in processing raw materials into finished products. — Evelyne Musambi, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026 At the same time, the economic self-sufficiency services division, the core DCF department tasked with determining eligibility and fielding questions from public assistance recipients, shrank. — Sharmila Venkatasubban, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026 But China's efforts to build up self-sufficiency have reduced the threat to its domestic market from global trade developments. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026 Egypt claimed to have achieved 100 percent chicken-egg self-sufficiency and reported a 113 percent year-over- year increase in rumors. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-sufficiency

Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-sufficiency

Noun

Bringing these creative brands together, giving producers access to a broader pool of talent, IP and resources, while preserving their independence is what differentiates Mediawan.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
The higher the required SIL, the greater the required risk reduction and the more demanding the design, verification and independence of the safety function.

— Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of independence

Noun

The problem, Snegovaya said, is that achieving military autonomy for Europe and Ukraine is extremely difficult in the short term, and Europe has been slow to develop the necessary capabilities.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
CoreMotion is intended to address this integration challenge by providing a common control layer between autonomy software and vehicle hardware.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of autonomy

Noun

This increasing self-reliance has an extra benefit in the midst of a grueling war.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Its rural nature — isolated from the rest of the country and with many of its communities accessible only by air or water — breeds a self-reliance.

— Becky Bohrer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of self-reliance

Browse Nearby Words

self-subsisting

self-sufficiency

self-sufficient

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Self-sufficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-sufficiency. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of self-sufficiency

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes