self-reliant
Standing on own
Self-reliant describes someone who depends on their own abilities and resources rather than help from others.
A self-reliant person handles problems independently: She's remarkably self-reliant—fixed the roof herself.
The quality can be admired as strength or criticized as stubbornness in refusing assistance.
Cleverly original in design
- inventiveShowing original thought
- adaptableAble to adjust readily
- improvisingCreating spontaneously without plan
- handyUseful and nearby
practical · DIY · creative · problem-solving · crafty · versatile · makeshift · enterprising
Self-directed and free
- sovereignSupreme in power
- unaidedWithout external support
- unassistedWithout outside help
- autarkicEconomically self-contained
Maintaining effort despite difficulty
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- resoluteFixed in purpose
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
gritty · strong-willed · driven · disciplined · focused · purposeful · unwavering · dogged
Calm and controlled
- assuredCertain or self-possessed
- secureProtected from harm
- composedCalm and self-possessed
- unflappableImpossible to disturb
steadfast · resolute · bold · fearless · intrepid · grounded · centered · conviction
Believer in intuitive knowledge
- individualistOne who values autonomy
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- Thoreau19th-century American naturalist-essayist
- libertarianAnti-statist political adherent
stoic · autonomy · agency · inner-directed · Walden
ingenious
Cleverly original in design
- inventiveShowing original thought
- adaptableAble to adjust readily
- improvisingCreating spontaneously without plan
handy · practical · DIY · creative · problem-solving · crafty · versatile · makeshift · enterprising · scrappy
autonomous
Self-directed and free
- sovereignSupreme in power
- unaidedWithout external support
- unassistedWithout outside help
autarkic · freestanding · nonaligned · unaffiliated · freethinking
persevering
Maintaining effort despite difficulty
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- resoluteFixed in purpose
steadfast · gritty · strong-willed · driven · disciplined · focused · purposeful · unwavering · dogged · single-minded
poised
Calm and controlled
unflappable · steadfast · resolute · bold · fearless · intrepid · grounded · centered · conviction · backbone
transcendentalist
Believer in intuitive knowledge
- individualistOne who values autonomy
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- Thoreau19th-century American naturalist-essayist
libertarian · stoic · autonomy · agency · inner-directed · Walden
- self-containedstandalone, independent, modular, complete, autonomous
- self-sufficiencyoff-grid, homestead, homesteading, subsistence, autarky
- street smartsstreet smarts, savvy, resourceful, resourcefulness, cunning
- bootstrappingsweat equity, startup funding, solopreneur, organic growth, reinvestment
- Independence Levelsautonomous, codependent, dependent, semi-independent, interdependent
- independencefreedom, liberty, Independence Day, autonomy, sovereignty
self-reliantdependent
Requiring outside support
reliant · needy · codependent · helpless · parasitic
self-relianthelpless
Unable to act independently
incompetent · incapable · unable · insufficient · inadequate
self, selfish, reliable, selfless, reliance, unreliable, reliant, relying, relies