1
as in potential
the basic elements from which something can be developed
many thought that the mayor's speech lacked substance because specific proposals for solving the city's problems were few
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2
as in essence
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is
tireless caring and nurturing that was the very substance of maternal love
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in wealth
the total of one's money and property
measure the worth of a person not by his earthly substance but by his good deeds
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in object
one that has a real and independent existence
the question of whether the soul is a substance entirely independent of the body
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of substance
In Virgo, however, the love planet prefers simplicity, service and substance, essentially calling for a love that is more grounded.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Once the goo is on her, ideally, Ellen will just chill until the substance cures or whatever the heck it’s supposed to do.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 19 Sep. 2025
Mix the medication with an unappealing substance, such as dirt, coffee grounds, or cat litter.
—Ashley Wong, Health, 19 Sep. 2025
The complaint, although heavy on words, is light on substance.
—Stephen L. Carter, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substance
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Once the goo is on her, ideally, Ellen will just chill until the substance cures or whatever the heck it’s supposed to do.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 19 Sep. 2025
Mix the medication with an unappealing substance, such as dirt, coffee grounds, or cat litter.
—Ashley Wong, Health, 19 Sep. 2025
The complaint, although heavy on words, is light on substance.
—Stephen L. Carter, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
Noun
-
In an agentic world where AI handles the routine and humans handle the exceptional, these schools are betting on human potential, properly developed.—
Jaime Catmull,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Mangione still faces a second-degree murder charge, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, with the potential for parole.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That a collaborative hive is the essence of bee-ness is a common misconception.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, the essence of Mars in Scorpio sharpens your focus and heightens your passion around career matters.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
To be sure, boomers collectively have $75 trillion of wealth.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Since Scott, a novelist who received the bulk of her fortune after divorcing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, signed the Giving Pledge in 2019, promising to donate more than half her wealth, HBCUs have been among her favorite grantees.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As a result, instead of landing directly on the asteroid, space entrepreneurs are looking at ways to harvest the precious metals within asteroids without getting so close to the objects.—
Tom Brown,
Space.com,
21 Sep. 2025
-
View gallery - 4 images Everybody knows that dogs can learn to associate specific spoken words with objects that look a certain way.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
More than half a ton has already been collected, with materials shredded and repurposed into outdoor furniture or reused in 3D printing prototypes.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the unintentional nature of the plunking, both benches were warned when Kemp began veering toward the mound after being hit.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
-
That’s not to overstate the depth or emotive nature of a fun little ride that uses broad-brush psychology as an excuse for an elegant puzzle-box that, once solved, does not require further thought.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Investors 'on the fence' In its September European Fund Managers Survey — which polled 196 panelists who collectively manage assets worth $490 billion — Bank of America found that investor confidence in Europe had taken a hit.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
24 Sep. 2025
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Its acquisition of shallow water assets from ExxonMobil last December typified a trend of domestic firms taking the lead in Nigeria’s oil sector following recent exits of international oil companies.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Kroenke Group, a subsidiary of billionaire Stan Kroenke’s real estate firm, is the entity’s lead investor and limited partner.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Independent producers are also concerned about the opening up of EU support to to non-European entities, saying that by allowing third-country entities to benefit from funding undermines cultural sovereignty and exposes the sector to further market concentration in favour of global giants.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
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