substance

noun

ˈsəb-stən(t)s How to pronounce substance (audio)
Definition of substancenext
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
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

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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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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 The somewhat muddled tale of a wealthy foreigner in Italy, going feral from the pressures of maternity both lost and found, feels longer on rather lofty style than substance for some time. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 30 July 2026 Environmental groups sent a letter threatening to file suit against Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for spills of fuel, sewage and other substances into the Flint River and its tributaries over a period of years. — Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 30 July 2026 Using data collected through annual and mid-year assessments between 2016 and early 2024, researchers found that substance use increased steadily with age. — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2026 Testing later confirmed the substance not drugs, according to a spokesperson for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. — Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
  1. potential
  2. essence
  3. wealth
  4. object
  5. material
  6. nature
  7. assets
  8. entity
Noun
  • Pimpton seems like the best candidate due to his potential on the field and charisma off it.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • And though Chiles has been disappointing so far, there’s still some potential there, especially if Kelly figures out a way to lean into his strengths.
    — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of potential
Noun
  • That never crossed my mind before, but now in 2026, our reggaeton, our essence and our sound has become important in Mexico and even more so on a Latino level.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • But that all seems to funnel into these six tracks, mixing momentum and wisdom to arrive at the essence of the pedal steel—extreme highs, extreme lows, the expanse in between, out where life is lived.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • Court records show that in early 2022, Arbuckle managed a team of more than 20 and helped forecast loan demand across major sectors of the bank, including corporate, commercial, wealth management and small-business banking.
    — Chase Jordan July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • The Full Moon might create confusion, tension or disputes between your wealth versus what somebody else claims or wants.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 29 July 2026
Definition of wealth
Noun
  • People, some who may have never seen drugs in their lives, thought the falling object was cocaine.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 21 July 2026
  • The structure also supports the kind of smooth, repeatable opening and closing action that many EDC enthusiasts value, whether the knife is being used for a quick package opening or carried as a tactile mechanical object throughout the day.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 July 2026
Definition of object
Noun
  • Organized in conjunction with Atlanta History Center, this event gives you the unique opportunity to view archival materials and artifacts while learning the full story of this Atlanta landmark.
    — Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than burning coal for energy or converting it into fuels, the process focuses on extracting carbon-rich molecular structures that can serve as feedstock for advanced engineering materials.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of material
Noun
  • Through the mid-1980s, Wolfram continued this work, discovering a number of fundamental connections between computation and nature, and inventing such concepts as computational irreducibility.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Creators who attended OpenAI’s first-ever influencer brand trip at a luxury resort in upstate New York posted glowing reviews of their private cabins, nature excursions and farm-to-table meals.
    — Angela Yang, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of nature
Noun
  • That has aligned the region with the United States — and exposed their AI assets to Iranian attacks, noted Helima Croft, head of global strategy at RBC Capital Markets.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • On July 22, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce warned that vaults whose managers pick strategies, rebalance assets and appoint decision-makers may not sit outside securities law.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of assets
Noun
  • Baird said that major infrastructure projects generally involve significant collaboration with state-level entities.
    — Ilana Arougheti July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • Both entities will be overseen by independent boards that do not include Smith, who will remain chief executive emeritus.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of entity

Phrases Containing substance

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subspecieses
substance
substances
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Cite this Entry

“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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