1
as in unsubstantial
being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance
an insubstantial carton that could not possibly stand up during long-distance shipping
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spiritual
not composed of matter
energy is insubstantial
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insubstantial
Scarlet’s good intentions to end wars by way of sheer determination to do what’s right might prove insubstantial in practice.
—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Oliver Rackham, the great historian of the British countryside, devoted a not insubstantial portion of his career to rebutting this claim, noting that there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that these punishments were ever carried out.
—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
And since the lesser and insubstantial always has to give place to the greater and substantial, self-indulgent lust has no choice but to make way for our reflection of pure and perfect Love.
—
Tony Lobl,
Christian Science Monitor,
28 Oct. 2025
These insubstantial claims did not improve much after the European powers departed.
—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for insubstantial
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Oliver Rackham, the great historian of the British countryside, devoted a not insubstantial portion of his career to rebutting this claim, noting that there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that these punishments were ever carried out.
—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
And since the lesser and insubstantial always has to give place to the greater and substantial, self-indulgent lust has no choice but to make way for our reflection of pure and perfect Love.
—
Tony Lobl,
Christian Science Monitor,
28 Oct. 2025
These insubstantial claims did not improve much after the European powers departed.
—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for insubstantial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insubstantial
Adjective
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Roadmaps are frequently high-level and unsubstantial.
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This can alter the amount and types of ACE-inhibiting peptides created during fermentation2—and possibly account for kombucha's unsubstantial effect on blood pressure.
Adjective
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The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Tuesday that practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual movement cannot sue tech giant Cisco over allegations of aiding the Chinese government’s surveillance and torture of the group.
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The 1970s were thick with New Age spiritual fads and movements, from the benign (crystals) to the unspeakably toxic and cultic (Jonestown).
Adjective
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Using flimsy or degradable sealants that allow bats to reenter.
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Even the most memorable new character, Forky (Tony Hale)—an endearingly daffy piece of plastic cutlery with a tendency toward self-harm—could only reinforce the sense that we were being served a load of flimsy, disposable goods.
Adjective
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Followers of the Abrahamic religions are supposed to treat God as immaterial and incorporeal, yet these early Yahweh worshippers imagined him as fully embodied.
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Positioned as a large-scale genre event, the series updates the legendary SFX property with a contemporary political and social edge, with Shun Oguri leading the cast as a detective hunting a seemingly incorporeal killer.
Adjective
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But a gossamer jacket tossed over a swimsuit on a breezy evening?
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The type of memory flashbacks that are shot at knee level, gauzy and out of focus, with a gossamer visual touch to conjure whispering, buried emotions of the past.
Adjective
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In both the real and metaphysical locations of the show, the backgrounds are all painted by hand, something which was pointed out took up a lot of time due to the number of paintings in the show and due to the number of montages.
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In the 18th century Samuel Johnson coined the term metaphysical poets to criticize Donne, John Cleveland, and Abraham Cowley.
Adjective
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His look also stands out due to his unique and frothy red beard, and colorful tattoos across his entire torso.
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The bold bedroom trends of the past 10 years—think high-glam furniture, frothy bedding, and stark color schemes—are giving way to simpler and softer rooms with an emphasis on warmth.
Adjective
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The fact that it was conceived without thought and for decades was produced and consumed without thought is immaterial.
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Yum no longer shares the same-store sales of the chain’s domestic business, implying that the segment is now considered immaterial to the company’s broader results.
Cite this Entry
“Insubstantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insubstantial. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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