not so much (something) as (something else)

phrase

: 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 supreme leader did not so much as acknowledge a single other country by name — a disappointment for those seeking to learn more about the regime’s current attitude toward the White House. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 20 Feb. 2026

Many of my favorite meals have been eaten at rickety tables, with tissue-thin paper napkins, flimsy plastic forks, and not so much as a whisper of air-conditioning. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026

There is no note, no explanation, not so much as a word from Jennifer, and the shock has left Billie speechless. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026

Liu has come to view skating not so much as a competition but an art form. — Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026