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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in essence
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
3
as in wealth
the total of one's money and property
measure the worth of a person not by his earthly substance but by his good deeds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of substance
Nor does the film offer up much in the way of thematic substance beyond love (between women) is grand, men are mostly bad, and matriarchal societies are better than patriarchies.
—
Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
Allergies Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to foreign substances, such as pollen, pet dander, or dust.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
The process, called phototoxicity, happens when light-reactive chemicals from fragrances and other substances sit on the skin and are exposed to sunlight.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Another Senate doc, John Barrasso, underscored the substance of the risk from inside the government.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substance
Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
Allergies Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to foreign substances, such as pollen, pet dander, or dust.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
The process, called phototoxicity, happens when light-reactive chemicals from fragrances and other substances sit on the skin and are exposed to sunlight.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Another Senate doc, John Barrasso, underscored the substance of the risk from inside the government.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
Noun
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The paper also highlights the potential of digital twins — virtual patient replicas that allow doctors to simulate treatments before applying them in real life.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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This creates the potential for payload delivery and even medical evacuation from orbit to any major metropolitan area.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These metres break you down to your essence.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The bad news is that time is of the essence.—
Daniel Klein,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That kind of philanthropy is unusual in an age when many billionaires flaunt their wealth with mega-yachts and Wall Street firms work to extract profits from their investments.—
David Gelles,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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This will lead to market meltdowns and cascading economic hardship as global wealth implodes.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Pixel’s Magic Editor leverages generative AI tools, which can remove objects in the background, alter lighting, and realistically change the entire mood of a phone (a bright middary sun can easily be compensated for).—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The Bundy family said information about the object removed from Ryan Bundy’s arm could raise more questions in the incident.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Compost for Life uses black soldier fly larvae to break down organic material.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Understanding this transition is critical to designing materials that stay stable under harsh conditions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Golden generations are, almost by nature, generally followed by a less impressive one.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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By learning from nature’s most flexible swimmer, the octopus, researchers hope to overcome these challenges and make underwater machines more capable, adaptable, and sustainable.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Do Now For users who still had assets in the wallet on July 7, the options are limited.—
Chris Groshong,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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The thing is, rarely (if at all) have the Norwegians had assets as elite and deadly as Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Two million dollars of the funds used to protect Okefenokee came from the Holdfast Collective, a group of nonprofit entities that since 2022 has donated the profits generated by Patagonia to nonprofit groups fighting climate change.—
David Gelles,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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Overnight, customers discovered that their formerly frisky bots had turned frigid, some morphing into befuddled entities who seemed to be suffering from brain injuries.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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