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
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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 Studios may not say it outright, but executives are scanning the headlines, wary of backlash, choosing safety over substance. Rochée Jeffrey, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025 The court also noted in its first sentence that the Interior Ministry agents did not seize substances or any other material evidence that could be linked to terrorist acts, and did not gather intelligence to support the accusations. Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025 In high school, many of them are navigating how to handle being confronted with the same substances that tempted their parents. Rachel Hale, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025 The sparse two-count indictment does not deal with the substance of the Russian investigation but instead consists of charges of making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding. Eric Tucker, Twin Cities, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
Noun
  • As a result, a flurry of drinks, vapes, edibles, and smokable buds — many with the potential to get users high — are now widely available on store shelves across Wisconsin.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • If there is a potential for temperatures to fall into these thresholds, a freeze watch may be issued a few days ahead of time.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Netflix's Drive to Survive docuseries, which helped F1 reach fans in the USA, captured the essence of such rivalries heating up in the background.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
  • So in essence, all of the money Nvidia has invested in Coreweave has come back to it in the form of revenue.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Both came in with a wealth of experience in creating running lanes with varied offensive line movement in their recent stops, and that has carried over in their first year with the Cowboys.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Here, The Athletic compares the two clubs, looking at their trophy cabinets, wealth, global followings, squads and more.
    Will Jeanes, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Stay away from water, wet items, and metal objects.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Meanwhile, across parts of Europe, reports of mysterious objects spotted in the skies in recent weeks – most recently over Denmark – have added to regional security concerns.
    Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Some candidates running in the 2026 midterm have already invoked Kirk’s assassination in campaign ads and fundraising materials.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Before, players could at least guess at the nature of a game, as each suit represented a different kind of competition.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Colorado's commitment to accessibility From jeep tours in Cañon City that offer American Sign Language to the Colorado Trail Explorer mobile app detailing accessible trails, Colorado offers a multitude of ways for travelers with disabilities to explore the stunning nature for which it's known.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Stock futures pointed to a downbeat open on Wednesday as traders assessed the ramifications of a government shutdown, with Wall Street perhaps looking to other assets for safety — including bitcoin.
    Fred Imbert, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Trusted by organizations such as the Australian Open and Premier Padel, Pendular combines cutting-edge technology with sports expertise to help clients maximize the value of their media assets efficiently and at scale.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Desai makes reference to the Federal Trade Commission’s recent lawsuit aimed at Live Nation and Ticketmaster that claims the entities misled consumers about resale ticket prices.
    Thania Garcia, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Last year, Cavanagh also led the process of spinning off most of NBCU’s cable network portfolio into a new stand-alone entity, Versant.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

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