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
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
Republican lawmakers and state attorneys general have challenged the basis of those recommendations, arguing that the evidence used to support them is insubstantial.
—Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 1 Aug. 2025
Vague green claims won’t cut it anymore, as evidenced by a 2020 study from the European Commission, which found over half of environmental claims were insubstantial, misleading or unfounded.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 2 July 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
Tony Lobl, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2025
Republican lawmakers and state attorneys general have challenged the basis of those recommendations, arguing that the evidence used to support them is insubstantial.
—Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 1 Aug. 2025
Vague green claims won’t cut it anymore, as evidenced by a 2020 study from the European Commission, which found over half of environmental claims were insubstantial, misleading or unfounded.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 2 July 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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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.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
27 Dec. 2025
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Then again … This really does sum up Reeves’s unsubstantial performance as Jonathan Harker, whose new client is definitely up to no good.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Across TikTok, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, Goodreads, and Reddit, reactions have focused less on the craft of fiction writing than on the spiritual subjugation of women that any media about this topic must, by nature, interrogate and include.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
28 Apr. 2026
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During his trial in January, prosecutors said the former actor weaponized his reputation as a Lakota medicine man, exploiting cultural traditions and spiritual beliefs to prey on Indigenous women and girls.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Replacing flimsy closet shelving, adding adjustable pantry shelves, or installing hooks can turn cluttered spaces into organized ones and improve everyday routines.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 May 2026
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The knit material keeps things breathable, while the memory foam insole cushions every step without feeling overly soft or flimsy.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 May 2026
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.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2026
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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.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But a gossamer jacket tossed over a swimsuit on a breezy evening?—
Jennifer Noyes,
Air Mail,
25 Apr. 2026
-
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.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Mercifully, those connections are not forged across time and space; all three stories remain discrete, never approaching a moment of grandiose metaphysical convergence.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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Conversations might turn to metaphysical issues or charitable activities.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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In true Austen fashion, this work of lightly speculative fiction is frothy and fun, but also deeply invested in digging into the real price of being a woman in Regency-era England.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
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Perhaps, as Weiner points out, the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession dimmed the public’s appetite for frothy stories about the pursuit of Birkin bags.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Without careful scrutiny, investors risk paying premium valuations for technological capabilities that are still experimental, limited in scope, or economically immaterial.—
Perrie M. Weiner,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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In such a scenario, the size of a warhead stockpile may prove immaterial, argued Eveleth.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insubstantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insubstantial. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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