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
3
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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of substance Inmates in the program treat substance abuse issues with medication. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Anderson has been accused of many things: putting style before substance, being too sardonic as to lack emotionality, leaning too hard into nostalgia, becoming too fastidious for his own good. Shannon Carlin, Time, 30 May 2025 Bottega Veneta has long rejected the flash of logos for the substance of craft, an energy that mirrors Buchanan’s own approach to fashion through his brand, Sansovino 6. Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 30 May 2025 On a personal level, attorneys may suffer from strained relationships, substance abuse and even suicidal ideation. Raquel Gomes, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
Noun
  • The potential for chaos and confusion in an evacuation became all-too-apparent last December, when a magnitude 7 earthquake struck about 30 miles off the Humboldt County coast.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
  • The Trump administration has expressed interest in exploring psychedelics for their potential in treating PTSD and other debilitating mental health issues, various officials have shared.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • That really captured the essence of the dark ages and the medieval world.
    Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Add these picks to your cart to capture Charlotte’s essence before the new season of And Just Like That… is through.
    Clara McMahon, People.com, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are also examples of how profit—and the influence and wealth that come with it—can be leveraged to improve not just a company or an industry, but the entire world.
    Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 2 June 2025
  • Suspicion grew over how the son accumulated such wealth – especially as Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene campaigned on being from a rural, not wealthy family.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • Keep a distance from water, wet articles, and metal objects.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 31 May 2025
  • The discovery marks the first time that such objects, called long-period transients, have been detected in X-rays, the team said in announcing the findings.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • The collected material makes a persuasive case for self-forgiveness.
    Dayna Tortorici, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • The material is being produced at a factory in Iowa and will scale to 65 tons a year, with the first large-scale shipments expected this fall for inclusion in spring collections.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • Those who like taking their SUV or truck out to the middle of nowhere to commune with nature and enjoy quality time with friends and family will appreciate the Howler Brothers theme.
    Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Some of the body—some of nature—is acceptable, some not.
    Erica Stern June 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • In the complaint, Aaron asks that neither party be awarded alimony and that both parties' community assets and debts are in accordance with Nevada law.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The dots represented arts organizations, creative businesses, studios, galleries, performance venues, and cultural and historic assets.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • These are very different entities than NPR and PBS—some have roots in the counter-propaganda operations of the Second World War and the Cold War, and all of them are still seen as tools of U.S. soft power—but they are designed to be editorially independent, and often do produce good journalism.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
  • In fact, unless a black hole is actively in the middle of eating gas, dust or massive stars, the ominous entities remain invisible to us.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

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