as in substantial
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention
they've made substantive changes in the nightly newscast
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nominal
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of substantive
U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Any substantive inquiry into the arrest and subsequent court case would have made all of that plain to see.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Only seventeen members of Harmony, the party that represents the Russian minority and commands a substantive if declining amount of support, and two nonaffiliated members were opposed.
—Gordon F. Sander, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Adjective
In fact, most of the positions described in this article fall into the same category as not hiring replacement city beach restroom cleaners — very modest substantive money savings and maximum penalizing of the public.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Any substantive inquiry into the arrest and subsequent court case would have made all of that plain to see.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
California’s climate agenda mixes the symbolic with the substantive.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Only seventeen members of Harmony, the party that represents the Russian minority and commands a substantive if declining amount of support, and two nonaffiliated members were opposed.
—Gordon F. Sander, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantive
Adjective
-
Taxpayers generally foot a substantial portion of the bill, and owners reap the revenue from ticket sales, concessions, and stadium naming rights.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Gontang notes that walking on an incline can make a substantial difference because walking uphill requires more muscle activation and greater energy expenditure than walking on a flat surface.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Leon was seeking gender reassignment surgery, which come to play a significant role in the climax of the hostage crisis precipitated by his partner.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Leon is seeking gender confirmation surgery and his needs come to play a significant role in the climax of the hostage crisis precipitated by his partner.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of these trades were so large, Khouw said, that whoever placed them would have needed tens of millions of dollars in margin reserves, indicating a considerable level of financial sophistication and wealth.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Torrey Pines High School and San Diego Surf alum’s local pedigree may also boost the fifth-year Wave, who through no fault of the club’s current leaders, lost considerable star power in recent years, contributing to an attendance decline.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But Trump’s election proved that a sizable contingent of the population had no problem imposing their values on others—and even hoped that the government might do so for them.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In North Texas, there were more than a dozen rallies, each drawing a sizable crowd.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substantive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantive. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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