Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective independent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of independent are autonomous, free, and sovereign. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.

the colony's struggle to become independent

Where would autonomous be a reasonable alternative to independent?

Although the words autonomous and independent have much in common, autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

When can free be used instead of independent?

While in some cases nearly identical to independent, free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.

you're free to do as you like

When could sovereign be used to replace independent?

The synonyms sovereign and independent are sometimes interchangeable, but sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.

separate and sovereign armed services

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 independent Even as models were refined, calculations were checked, detectors were calibrated, and independent neutrino detectors were built (but seeing the same result), the discrepancy remained. Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025 Cuomo has gained significant support among Hispanic and independent voters since September. Terry Collins, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025 Finding a viable economic model for these films — which are neither the blockbusters sought after by platforms nor small independent productions, but ambitious works that aim to reach a wide audience — has become increasingly complex. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025 Familias Unidas Por La Justicia, an independent farmworker union in Washington, estimates that nearly 85% of the local farmworkers are undocumented immigrants from Mexico. Rosa Maria Navarro, Time, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for independent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for independent
Adjective
  • The push for fully autonomous systems, agents that plan, reason, and act without human oversight, has created an automation theater where demos impress, but production systems disappoint.
    Joel Hron, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Larger mushroom systems could find applications in edge computing and aerospace exploration, while smaller iterations might enhance autonomous systems and wearable devices.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In May 2016, police collected DNA evidence from Clay after he was arrested on separate theft charges.
    Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Radiolarians were visible throughout the book, which was published as separate volumes between 1899 and 1904 and finally as a complete edition in 1904 with one hundred full-page lithographs.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Day Vacuum Deals Refreshing your space should always start with a deep cleaning, which requires a powerful vacuum.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Vinicius Jr ranks as the fourth-fastest player in La Liga per SkillCorner’s PSV-99 metric so far this season, while both Federico Valverde and Alvaro Carreras are powerful off-ball runners out wide.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So, in the UAE, we're partnered with Abu Dhabi, and there's two funds that have invested Mubadala, which is one of the sovereign wealth funds and IHC, another one of the sovereign wealth funds.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • More recently, the firm advised the government on many of its international bond sales and helped finance the sovereign wealth fund’s $55 billion purchase of Electronic Arts.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The company aims to provide a secure, self-sufficient energy source for future AI and data operations, reducing reliance on public power grids.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The home is self-sufficient thanks to solar panels that generate three times its energy needs with the surplus going back into the local grid.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As a result, the films made during Nkrumah’s time were ordered to be burned, his name struck from Ghanaian classrooms and his monumental efforts to build a self-reliant and culturally sovereign Africa were silenced.
    Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Instead, Battilana emphasizes that learning your way around the kitchen from a young age can help a person feel more self-reliant.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The film’s plot is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy that Indians should be self-dependent to achieve their goals.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Mar. 2023
Adjective
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Independent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/independent. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on independent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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