not so much (something) as (something else)
idiom
: less like (something) than (something else)
What bothered me was not so much what he said as how he said it.
Sailing is not so much a science as an art.
Examples of not so much (something) as (something else) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The lips should be blushed in a lifeless plum matte shade, but not so much as to bring too much color to the face.
—
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 30 July 2025
The loss of all that early playoff inventory will be marked by a concomitant reduction in ad sales revenue, although not so much as to put anyone in the poor house.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025
But this number has been dwarfed by those who have not so much as batted an eye either publicly or in their operations.
—Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The men, by contrast, have not so much as qualified for a major finals since the turn of the century.
—Rory Smith, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not so much (something) as (something else)
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Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 30 July 2025
The loss of all that early playoff inventory will be marked by a concomitant reduction in ad sales revenue, although not so much as to put anyone in the poor house.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 May 2025
But this number has been dwarfed by those who have not so much as batted an eye either publicly or in their operations.
—Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The men, by contrast, have not so much as qualified for a major finals since the turn of the century.
—Rory Smith, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not so much (something) as (something else)
Cite this Entry
“Not so much (something) as (something else).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20so%20much%20%28something%29%20as%20%28something%20else%29. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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