Definition

Adjective: 1. Independent and capable of managing one's own life and affairs without needing help from others: Describes a person who is confident in their own abilities and resources, and does not depend on external support or control for action and judgment. 2. Autonomous in thought and action: Free from external control or influence, making decisions and taking care of oneself based on one's own judgment and capabilities.

Usage

• The adjective "self-reliant" is used to describe a person's character, attitude, or approach to life.
• It is often used in a positive sense to praise someone's independence and capability.
• It can be used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "is," "became," "seems").

Examples

• Attributive use (before a noun):
  • She is a remarkably self-reliant individual who built her business from scratch.
  • The program aims to foster self-reliant thinking in young adults.
• Predicative use (after a linking verb):
  • After years of traveling alone, he became very self-reliant.
  • To survive in the wilderness, you must be self-reliant.

Advanced Usage

• "To be self-reliant on/upon [something]": While the core meaning implies independence from , it can be used to specify independence regarding a particular resource or skill. This is a more nuanced usage.
  • The country aims to be self-reliant on energy production. (The country aims not to depend on other countries for energy.)
• Concept of "self-reliance" (noun): The state or quality of being self-reliant.
  • Economic self-reliance is a key goal for the developing nation.

Variants and Related Words

• Self-reliance (n): The quality or state of being self-reliant; independence.
  • His self-reliance was evident in how he solved the problem alone.
• Self-reliantly (adv): In a self-reliant manner.
  • She tackled the project self-reliantly.

Synonyms

• Independent: Not influenced or controlled by others.
• Autonomous: Having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs.
• Self-sufficient: Able to supply one's own needs without external assistance.
• Self-supporting: Financially independent; able to support oneself.

Antonyms

• Dependent: Relying on someone or something else for aid or support.
• Reliant: Having dependence on something.
• Helpless: Unable to defend oneself or to act without help.

Adjective

1. (of persons) free from external control and constraint in e.g. action and judgment