1
as in existence
the fact of being or of being real
believes in the subsistence of a soul as a separate entity from the body
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in continuation
uninterrupted or lasting existence
the subsistence of the patient's infection, even after the use of antibiotics, had the doctors puzzled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 subsistence
Yields of the subsistence crop cassava will fall in sub-Saharan Africa as the world heats up, a substantial threat to nutrition for some of the world’s poorest people, the study found.
—
Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
That includes modern breadbaskets that now enjoy some of the world’s best growing conditions such as the US, and subsistence farming communities that rely on small harvests of cassava.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 21 June 2025
Harvests failed and water reserves dried up in a country where 70% of people rely on subsistence agriculture.
—Lungelo Ndhlovu, Christian Science Monitor, 6 June 2025
Eventually, an industrialized country’s workers shift from subsistence agriculture toward higher-productivity sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, green technologies, and digital services.
—Zainab Usman, Foreign Affairs, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for subsistence
Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 18 June 2025
That includes modern breadbaskets that now enjoy some of the world’s best growing conditions such as the US, and subsistence farming communities that rely on small harvests of cassava.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 21 June 2025
Harvests failed and water reserves dried up in a country where 70% of people rely on subsistence agriculture.
—Lungelo Ndhlovu, Christian Science Monitor, 6 June 2025
Eventually, an industrialized country’s workers shift from subsistence agriculture toward higher-productivity sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, green technologies, and digital services.
—Zainab Usman, Foreign Affairs, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for subsistence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subsistence
Noun
-
The Court Jeweller explained that the mere existence of the Boucheron came as a surprise to many, as it had never been worn in public by the Queen Mother or Queen Elizabeth herself.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
4 July 2025
-
But their quiet existence becomes threatened after Emanuel (Kataem O’Connor), the eldest Freeman kid, makes contact with a young woman who desperately needs his family’s help.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
This latest endeavor marks a continuation of the growing trend of digital creators broadcasting their every move over extended periods, with Cenat and crew committing to a full month of non-stop content.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
3 July 2025
-
Next up in the renewables sector is the continuation of a rabid race to break ground on clean-energy projects to beat the tax credit deadlines.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
Krypto endured through the Bronze Age, too, until DC's decades of continuity got too twisted and the publisher wiped the slate clean with the event comic storyline Crisis on Infinite Earths in the mid-'80s.—
James Grebey,
Time,
10 July 2025
-
With clarity, with care, and with continuity in mind.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
Worthy's lawyers had made a motion for a continuance that Judge Ryan Larson of the 395th District Court granted.—
Claire Osborn,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
-
The postponement comes after McIntire’s attorneys filed a motion for continuance on June 27, asking the court for more time to complete discovery and prepare.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Keyon Monte’s journey through the world of theater has been shaped by persistence, reinvention and a deep love for storytelling.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 July 2025
-
Sales bring empathy, persistence, active listening and problem solving.—
Sarah Goodall,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Just as we’re wired to fight, flee or freeze when threatened, fawning is the instinct to appease, please and self-abandon at any cost in order to stay safe—a survival response often mistaken for being agreeable, easygoing or helpful, Clayton notes.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
Reaching an agreement with the United States seemed almost to be a matter of survival for North Korea.—
ANDREI LANKOV,
Foreign Affairs,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subsistence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subsistence. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share