independent

[in-di-pen-duhnt] / ˌɪn dɪˈpɛn dənt /

ADJECTIVE

liberated, free

Synonyms

STRONGEST

autonomous nonpartisan self-reliant self-sufficient separate sovereign

STRONG

absolute

WEAK

autarchic autarchical freewheeling individualistic nonaligned on one's own self-contained self-determining self-governing self-ruling self-supporting separated unaided unallied unconnected unconstrained uncontrolled unregimented

Antonyms

WEAK

dependent subordinate subservient

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This is the first time an auditor of a defunct company is providing compensation to independent minority shareholders harmed by false and misleading financial statements, the SFC said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

The 10 experts are UN Special Rapporteurs - independent human rights specialists appointed by the UN Human Rights Council - and four four members of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Yes, they have shareholders, they have boards, people they have to be accountable to, but they can also make independent decisions.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2026

Former Fed governor Kevin Warsh told senators he would run an independent central bank, saying Trump has never asked him to commit to cutting interest rates and that he wouldn’t have agreed to do so.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

A city-state is an independent state or nation consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Vocabulary lists containing independent

List 1

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