autonomous

adjective

ȯ-ˈtä-nə-məs How to pronounce autonomous (audio)
Definition of autonomousnext
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another Native American nations are regarded as autonomous in many respects and thus not subject to a number of state and local laws

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective autonomous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of autonomous are free, independent, and sovereign. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

When might free be a better fit than autonomous?

While the synonyms free and autonomous are close in meaning, 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 is it sensible to use independent instead of autonomous?

The synonyms independent and autonomous are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When would sovereign be a good substitute for autonomous?

The words sovereign and autonomous can be used in similar contexts, 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

Examples 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 autonomous The attack nevertheless revealed a new configuration of the axis that involved more proactive and autonomous decision-making from its members. —Renad Mansour, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024 For now, only Zoox employees will be taking autonomous rides. —Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024 Plus also is testing supervised autonomous trucks on roads in Sweden. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 7 Nov. 2024 Mobileye, which is owned by Intel, will deploy vehicles equipped with its autonomous technology on Lyft’s platform. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for autonomous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autonomous
  1. independent
  2. sovereign
  3. separate
Adjective
  • Talia Jane, an independent reporter on X, formerly known as Twitter, shared quotes from people who knew Bushnell on her page.
    Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • The most popular among them are its limited editions that reproduce in miniature the brand’s most popular silk scarf patterns, many of which began life as collaborations with independent artists.
    Carol Besler, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of independent
Adjective
  • For example, the AI workers would presumably need to be from that sovereign country.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Future drone swarms will dissolve and reconstitute themselves effortlessly in units of every size, much as elite special-operations forces are built from scalable detachments, each of which is capable of sovereign command.
    Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
Definition of sovereign
Adjective
  • And last month the board approved a contract for separate legal counsel from the county office — a move that is highly unusual for education offices, Fine said.
    Molly Gibbs, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
  • The data given to Cambridge included 20 years of gun owners’ warranty card information as well as a separate database of customers from Cabela’s, a sporting goods retailer with approximately 70 stores in the U.S. and Canada.
    Corey G. Johnson, ProPublica, 15 Nov. 2024
Definition of separate

Thesaurus Entries Near autonomous

autonomies

autonomous

autonomy

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Autonomous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autonomous. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on autonomous

Nglish: Translation of autonomous for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of autonomous for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 3 Do you have a (flare/flair) for choosing the righ...