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
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 That’s why only seven substances, BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-C, Emideltide, Semax and Epitalon, are on that meeting’s agenda even though far more than seven have already cleared the earlier hurdle. Allison Palmer updated June 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026 At the time, the singer was dealing with substance abuse. Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026 Watch for powdery mildew, which appears as a white, powdery substance. Kelly Manning, Martha Stewart, 23 June 2026 But there is substance amid all the beauty. Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
Noun
  • This kind of shallow quake is typically felt more intensely and carries greater potential for surface damage.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
  • There's a potential for arm wrestles and camaraderie at some point.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Some pastimes are distractions, some are distortions, and some few are true distillations—refining a city or a place or a community to its essence, deliciously sipped by all.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
  • Like the catchphrase to the Wide World of Sports broadcast that first enthralled Hunt with the World Cup, this was the essence of the thrill of victory contrasting, alas, with the agony of defeat.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • Personal financial advisers These professionals help clients build and manage wealth and plan for retirement.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • You might not have been affected by this round of layoffs, but the harms of extreme wealth concentration are coming for all of us.
    Alex Lee, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Officers believe the suspect started throwing objects out of the passenger-side window during the pursuit.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 19 June 2026
  • Avoid tall, isolated trees or other elevated objects.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Then, on Thursday, a tear was spotted in part of the material that was applied to the floor of the pool.
    Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 June 2026
  • By switching suites of genes on and off, the many different cell types in our bodies can all be created from the same material.
    Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • The injuries ranged from minor to serious in nature, the highway patrol said in its release.
    The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026
  • The taxing nature of executive roles, coupled with constant travel, high decision volumes, and immense stress, necessitates robust physical capacity.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Iran also committed to open its facilities to extensive international inspections in exchange for the sanctions relief and unfreezing of its foreign assets.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • So far, Lan has paid back about $455,000, and the Ho Chi Minh City Judgment Enforcement Agency is still actively processing assets related to Lan for damage compensation, Nguyen told CNN.
    Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • One of the entities that helped turn an idea into those accounts was a partnership called the Emergency Savings Initiative (ESI), between asset manager BlackRock and Commonwealth, a national nonprofit focused on financial security.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • Generally, dark energy and dark matter are regarded as separate entities, their elusiveness their primary link.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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