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Showing results for self-sustaining. Search instead for life-sustaining.
Definitions

self-sustaining

[self-suh-stey-ning, self-] / ˈsɛlf səˈsteɪ nɪŋ, ˌsɛlf- /
ADJECTIVE
closed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
restricted
WEAK
self-centered self-contained self-sufficient self-sufficing self-supported self-supporting self-sustained
Antonyms
WEAK
beginning continuing in business open running started starting unsettled welcoming working
ADJECTIVE
profitable
Synonyms
STRONGEST
beneficial commercial cost-effective effective fruitful good lucrative practical productive rewarding successful useful valuable worthwhile
WEAK
assisting conducive contributive effectual favorable gainful going in the black instrumental paid off paying paying well pragmatic remunerative serviceable sustaining sweet well-paying
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fruitless impotent incapable unfruitful unhelpful unproductive unprofitable unskilled useless valueless worthless
WEAK
disadvantageous
ADJECTIVE
self-reliant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
autonomous self-sufficient self-supporting
WEAK
on one's own self-contained self-governing unaided unallied
ADJECTIVE
self-sufficient
Synonyms
STRONGEST
competent confident efficient self-supporting
WEAK
arrogant closed conceited doing one's own thing egotistic haughty independent individual on one's own out for number one self-confident self-dependent self-sufficing self-supported self-sustained smug unit
Antonyms
STRONGEST
incompetent inefficient unable
WEAK
incapable needy

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.

The FirstNet Authority is required by law to be self-sustaining.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

This is not our base case, but the self-sustaining nature of market dynamics makes it a risk worth considering.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

The country must act fast - building a regulated, self-sustaining recycling system, raising household awareness, and integrating waste collection into solar business models.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025

No one should be under the illusion that a Mars settlement, even with a million people, could be fully independent of Earth and entirely self-sustaining.

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2025

The ultimate goal of any reintroduction program is to create a self-sustaining population in the wild—a species that can survive and breed completely on its own, with no human intervention.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.