autonomy

noun

ȯ-ˈtä-nə-mē How to pronounce autonomy (audio)
Definition of autonomynext
1
as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions the director agreed to make the film only on the condition that she be given complete autonomy for the casting

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2
as in independence
the state of being free from the control or power of another finding the mother country's treatment of them oppressive and intolerable, the 13 British colonies made the momentous decision to seek autonomy

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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 autonomy Those costs are also measured in the quiet, gradual erosion of local autonomy. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2026 Two lawyers can work identical hours in the same organization and experience their jobs in fundamentally different ways — one drained by constant conflict, another by lack of autonomy, another by isolation. — Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Ranjit Bawa, chief technology and ventures officer at Deloitte, also recommends giving employees autonomy to make thoughtful decisions around when to use AI. — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 This thinking assumes that more choice means more autonomy, and more autonomy is better. — Monika Piotrowska, STAT, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for autonomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autonomy
  1. choice
  2. independence
  3. sovereignty
  4. freedom
  5. independency
Noun
  • The Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, known as Eiren, announced the choice Wednesday.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Then again, the Fantasy 5 evening draw — 9, 11, 20, 32, 35 — also turned out to be a popular choice.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of choice
Noun
  • The program uses culinary education to build confidence, independence, creativity and life skills while introducing students to potential careers in the culinary arts.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Reiterating its 2019 call for Kavala’s release, the court declared his life-without-parole conviction null and void and found multiple violations of fundamental rights and judicial independence guarantees.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of independence
Noun
  • San Manuel Nation, a partner of the Dodgers for more than a decade, is actively fighting against prediction markets, believing their availability in California violates tribal sovereignty.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • That lofty rhetoric will now meet reality, demonstrating how much economic pain a nation is willing to face to secure its political sovereignty.
    — Sara Miller Llana, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of sovereignty
Noun
  • In fact, the Book of Exodus is his jam here, focusing on Moses (Christian Bale), his close connection to Egyptian pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton) and Moses' effort to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to freedom.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The International Press Institute, a nonprofit that aims to protect media freedom, recorded 26 incidents of attacks and threats in the five months to March.
    — Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of freedom
Noun
  • Yet the careful reader will appreciate the significance of the Puritan Cromwell’s independency.
    — Barton Swaim, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2021
  • His seemingly daily attacks on freedom of speech, the independency of the judiciary, the right to vote and other pillars of our constitutional system are bolstered by an intensely loyal fan base.
    — Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2020
Definition of independency

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Cite this Entry

“Autonomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autonomy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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