INDEPENDENT Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

independent

adjective

ˌin-də-ˈpen-dənt

Definition of independent

as in autonomous

able to take care of oneself or itself without outside help an independent young man who moved out of his parents' house while still a college student

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sovereign

not being under the rule or control of another finally they are an independent people, after centuries of domination by their more powerful neighbors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Both Gorman and Getty, who is mounting an independent campaign for Congress, have denied those allegations. — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 Emergency Lawyers, an independent group documenting atrocities in Sudan, said a drone targeted a group of civilians traveling Thursday in the desert town of Sowdari in North Korodofan state. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Their children – Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five – are enrolled to start as day pupils at a mixed independent school next month. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026 Instead, only independent productions will be completely exempt from the $5 million cap. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for independent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for independent

Adjective

On the Chinese side of the border, in the autonomous region of Tibet, the deluge overwhelmed Gyirong Port, a major border crossing with Nepal that, in scenes reminiscent of a disaster movie, appears to have been completely washed away.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
The pilot covered one subsystem, rather than demonstrating autonomous maintenance of an entire quantum computer.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of autonomous

Adjective

When the 2008 global financial crisis triggered the eurozone crisis, the deficit countries experienced sovereign debt crises, unemployment, austerity, and prolonged stagnation that unwound the imbalances.

— MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Cosine, pitched as Britain’s first fully sovereign frontier AI model, has attracted corporate partners including BAE Systems, PwC, and Lloyds Banking Group, the FT reports.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of sovereign

Adjective

Experts said it was most likely caused by a partial glacier collapse that sent tons of ice and rock crashing down into the valley below, setting off a powerful landslide.

— Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Hacking incident Hugging Face was recently at the center of a hacking incident that raised concerns about the rapid evolution of powerful AI and cybersecurity tools.

— April Roach, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of powerful

Adjective

Trump does not appear anywhere else on the website, aside from a list of endorsements that previously appeared on the homepage but has been moved to a separate page.

— Steve Peoples, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Luiz understands that aspect, too, acknowledging that Sporting KC needed him four separate times during Thursday’s news conference.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of separate

Adjective

Here are a few more tips from our experts on raising a self-sufficient child in the face of the snowplow parenting trend.

— Cheryl Maguire, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
This massive deal underscores the AI compute arms race, with Nscale building a self-sufficient Monarch Compute Campus.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of self-sufficient

Adjective

Your best chance of spotting a whooping crane is along the Texas coast, where the world’s only self-sustaining wild population returns each winter after migrating from Canada.

— Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2026
Feral populations spring up as result of these self-sustaining domestic animals fending for themselves.

— Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 17 June 2026

Definition of self-sustaining

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“Independent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/independent. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of independent

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