as in substitutes
a person or thing that takes the place of another
hired him at the last minute as a stand-in for the person who quit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stand-ins
Even mocktails are evolving beyond sugary stand-ins.
—
Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Faux brass candlesticks, plastic nutcrackers, and off-brand plaid blankets are hauled out as budget stand-ins for the designer’s signature style.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Inventive prop makers undoubtedly experimented with other stand-ins for blood over the centuries, like splashes of red paint.
—Mark Hay, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2025
But when our stand-ins for nature are this far removed from reality, the connection begins to blur.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
Many have been part of the production since early seasons of the show, and numerous started as members of the Dream Team — who do everything from test the challenges and act as lighting stand-ins to assist across departments — before moving into different roles.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
These figures–dancers, clowns and muses–are not only recurring motifs in Picasso’s art, but serve as stand-ins for the artist himself, navigating the complex terrain between outsider and icon.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The number of murders that these guys happen upon is absurd—unless the murders are understood as stand-ins for all death.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Ship was also able to open its payload bay door on Flight 10 and deploy eight mass-simulator stand-ins of SpaceX's Starlink satellites — a Starship first.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Faux brass candlesticks, plastic nutcrackers, and off-brand plaid blankets are hauled out as budget stand-ins for the designer’s signature style.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Inventive prop makers undoubtedly experimented with other stand-ins for blood over the centuries, like splashes of red paint.
—Mark Hay, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2025
But when our stand-ins for nature are this far removed from reality, the connection begins to blur.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
Many have been part of the production since early seasons of the show, and numerous started as members of the Dream Team — who do everything from test the challenges and act as lighting stand-ins to assist across departments — before moving into different roles.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
These figures–dancers, clowns and muses–are not only recurring motifs in Picasso’s art, but serve as stand-ins for the artist himself, navigating the complex terrain between outsider and icon.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The number of murders that these guys happen upon is absurd—unless the murders are understood as stand-ins for all death.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
Ship was also able to open its payload bay door on Flight 10 and deploy eight mass-simulator stand-ins of SpaceX's Starlink satellites — a Starship first.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand-ins
Noun
-
But the 34-year-old German helped Brighton manage the last 20 minutes of a routine 2-0 victory over second-from-bottom Burnley with efficiency, alongside fellow substitutes Danny Welbeck and James Milner, as Fabian Hurzeler’s side ended a run of six matches without a win with the minimum of fuss.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
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Training must emphasize that risk scores and recommendations are tools for professional judgment, not substitutes for it.—
Maureen Flatley,
Boston Herald,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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But this session will be Polis’ last, and union groups — who have shelved plans to launch a pro-worker ballot campaign — are now starting to eye the governor’s would-be replacements.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
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Kennedy also fired all 17 members of the CDC's vaccine advisory panel and handpicked their replacements, and has been criticized.—
Dr. Jade Cobern,
ABC News,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stand-ins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand-ins. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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