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
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Recent Examples of substance
Sankofa House provides long-term housing, peer-support services and multiple chances for people seeking recovery from substance use disorder.
—
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
So far, more than four thousand employees have been laid off, disrupting government services devoted to, among other things, cybersecurity efforts, special-education programs, substance-abuse treatment, and loans for small businesses.
—Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
After the Hunt isn’t especially incendiary in its substance.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Coe, who is bipolar, worked through substance abuse issues and a suicide attempt.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substance
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
So far, more than four thousand employees have been laid off, disrupting government services devoted to, among other things, cybersecurity efforts, special-education programs, substance-abuse treatment, and loans for small businesses.
—Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
After the Hunt isn’t especially incendiary in its substance.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Coe, who is bipolar, worked through substance abuse issues and a suicide attempt.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
Noun
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Joining a Blue Jays rotation that appeared more built for the regular season slog, Bieber held playoff potential.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The researchers compared both configurations to test the vitamin’s catalytic performance and long-term potential.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But perhaps its essence is best told by its most famous resident.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
-
This is the essence of the palpable belief in the vampire.—
Robert Eggers,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But right now, like wealth and health, IQ remains a node in the uncontrolled matrix of human development, causing some things and being caused by others, as genes and environment interact in the background.—
Eric Turkheimer,
The Atlantic,
13 Oct. 2025
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But the Tigers probably aren’t the team to give him the cash, thanks to Colt Keith and their wealth of infield prospects nearing the majors.—
Ryan Ford,
Freep.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Texas native rose to fame as foreign exchange student Nadia in American Pie (1999), the object of Jason Biggs’ affection.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
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In the future, every object could carry its own unforgeable signature, adding a layer of trust that is literally built into its molecular structure.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Made of a single flat material, the new class of robots can snap into hundreds of stable shapes.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Oct. 2025
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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.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The goal of that process, according to the state, would be to work with the community in exploring the nature of their cancer concern, provide education, and, if appropriate, provide epidemiological information.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
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Dæmons seem to be an outward manifestation of the complex nature of humans that encompasses, male, female and animalistic characteristics that hint towards the breaking of gender binaries and the possibilities of interspecies relations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Now is also the natural point to move away from Aston Villa assets, with their appealing run of opening games coming to an abrupt end.—
Holly Shand,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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But in December 2024, Ayala’s wife of nearly 30 years filed for divorce, and an initially amicable split turned sour amid a spate of legal disputes over his many businesses and assets, including his past catalog negotiations.—
Leila Cobo,
Billboard,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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China has its tight controls on all online activity, maintaining bans on top American digital entities such as Google Search, Facebook, Instagram and Reddit.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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By separating, the two new entities should trade at multiples closer to their industry peers, and their combined values should be worth more than what DuPont currently trades at, which was around $76 per share on Monday for a market capitalization of about $32 billion.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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