Definition of substitutivenext
as in alternative
taking the place of one that came before his recent religious fanaticism is only the latest substitutive addiction of a person with an addictive personality

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 substitutive At the top end, its role is more augmentative than substitutive, and its impact more incremental than disruptive or transformational. — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026 This kind of substitutive logic appears in early case histories of anorexia. — Anna Shechtman, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substitutive
Adjective
  • West Hollywood has become the latest city to create a domestic partnership registry for polyamorous relationships, with the city’s five-person City Council unanimously approving the legal protections for alternative family structures.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Aramco is also exploring additional overseas storage capacity and alternative export routes to strengthen its global supply network.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Nichols ran tests comparing sounds laid down on 24-track analog tape with those captured by a new 32-track digital unit manufactured by 3M, and found the latter superior.
    — Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The Russian missiles that hit overnight across the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, damaged homes and commercial properties, triggering new power and water outages, national and city authorities said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have unveiled their Hometown Remix uniforms, the newest set of alternate uniforms designed to celebrate the culture and fans of Pittsburgh.
    — Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Drivers should turn around and find an alternate route, and not underestimate the depth of floodwaters, according to the department.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Six nonverbal autistic students were missing for hours before arriving at a Brooklyn school more than four hours late after a substitute bus driver got lost, according to a city investigation.
    — Doug Williams, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • With zero acting gigs on the horizon and weary of taking handouts from Tori, Trina returns to Hollywood Arts for a substitute teaching position.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The University of Washington chapter of Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return, or SUPER UW, spearheaded a May 2024 encampment at the Seattle campus with other groups, according to reports and SUPER UW’s statements.
    — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2026
  • They were photographed together both at a bar with other suppliers and then also out to dinner with some other executives.
    — Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 9 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Substitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutive. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster