1
as in essences
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
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2
as in entities
one that has a real and independent existence
the question of whether the soul is a substance entirely independent of the body
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of substances
At the city of Detroit's request, EPA assisted in investigating and removing the hazardous substances.
—
Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Investigators are still processing the scene and investigating the materials that were found inside, including whether they may have been mixed with other substances, but Modica said investigators believe the energetic powder sparked the explosion.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Galloway is a happy user of both substances, and treats drinking as a pleasure best enjoyed in youth.
—Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2026
According to Berkeley Police, a resident on the 800 block of Colusa Avenue in North Berkeley notified firefighters on Friday about several bottles of hazardous substances in their basement.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
This, in turn, created chemical reactions that generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) – oxygen-containing molecules, such as hydrogen peroxide, that readily react with other substances thanks to unstable electrons.
—New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2026
The substances could help supply a lunar base The moon is chock-full of Earth’s history.
—Devika Rao, TheWeek, 27 Jan. 2026
Separate bills to ban the use, possession, sale or consumption of those intoxicating substances advanced out of a Senate committee on Wednesday, but the committee voted to send them to the Senate floor with no recommendation, rather than a recommendation to pass them.
—John Hult, States Newsroom, 23 Jan. 2026
Cases of marital rape, the use of substances to incapacitate victims and non consensual image sharing of intimate images continue to proliferate across Europe.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Investigators are still processing the scene and investigating the materials that were found inside, including whether they may have been mixed with other substances, but Modica said investigators believe the energetic powder sparked the explosion.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Galloway is a happy user of both substances, and treats drinking as a pleasure best enjoyed in youth.
—Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2026
According to Berkeley Police, a resident on the 800 block of Colusa Avenue in North Berkeley notified firefighters on Friday about several bottles of hazardous substances in their basement.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
This, in turn, created chemical reactions that generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) – oxygen-containing molecules, such as hydrogen peroxide, that readily react with other substances thanks to unstable electrons.
—New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2026
The substances could help supply a lunar base The moon is chock-full of Earth’s history.
—Devika Rao, TheWeek, 27 Jan. 2026
Separate bills to ban the use, possession, sale or consumption of those intoxicating substances advanced out of a Senate committee on Wednesday, but the committee voted to send them to the Senate floor with no recommendation, rather than a recommendation to pass them.
—John Hult, States Newsroom, 23 Jan. 2026
Cases of marital rape, the use of substances to incapacitate victims and non consensual image sharing of intimate images continue to proliferate across Europe.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substances
Noun
-
Skin care leads the conversation, alongside a growing focus on niche fragrances, refined essences and wellness treatments.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
22 Dec. 2025
-
And this year’s lineup is loaded with glow-boosting icons—from milky toners and hydrating essences to overnight masks that make your skin feel like a cloud.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
2 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Wexner and his charitable entities have given more than $200 million to Ohio State, his alma mater, which has, in turn, honored him through the naming of its football facility, medical center and the Wexner Center for Arts.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The state high court adopted the now-familiar ABC test hiring entities generally must meet to classify a worker as an independent contractor.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Hval’s restless melodies and at-times Proustian lyrics trail cigarette smoke or the fragrance of roses toward litanies of memory, all the while deconstructing the very natures of stage performance, recording technology, and digital existence.—
Jenn Pelly,
Time,
4 Dec. 2025
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The world features beautifully ethereal landscapes as well as industrial facilities that feel functional and fully realized despite their alien natures.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
2 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Decorative accents like pottery, tabletop objects, and sculptural decor add personality and a sense of craftsmanship without overwhelming a space, helping rooms feel personal and thoughtfully assembled.—
Colleen Sullivan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
-
PrimeSense, Maizels' prior startup, developed technology that allowed sensors to detect the distance between objects, and was integrated into Apple's Face ID sensor starting in 2017.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But those are very different things.—
Anna Schecter,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Anything tied to the royals will always draw some interest, which actually underscores how difficult things are for Harry and Meghan, as even their titles no longer seem enough to attract audiences to lackluster projects.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Rather than turn them into a harsh awakening, however, writer-director Walter Thompson-Hernández makes a refreshing point of holding fast to big dreams and bits of poetry anyway — not to deny the realities of life, but to embrace it in all its bittersweet richness.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
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Given the differences in Western and Eastern beauty standards, and the realities of setting a romance in the hockey world, neither Shane nor Ilya fit the mold of BL’s feminine, willowy bishonen.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substances. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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