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

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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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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 Office space is available in the thrift store for nonprofit groups to use as well as rooms for counseling services for behavior health, substance abuse, anxiety and other concerns of the community, Applegate said. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 These schedules are meant to address PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which the military has used for decades in firefighting foams. — Austin Fast, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026 At the same time, there’s no one-size-fits all for chemical hazard risks, and each substance must be evaluated in terms of application, exposure, life cycle and other factors that can impact hazard levels. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026 Compared with all the other substances studied, fentanyl ingestion was more than seven times as likely to result in a major effect and more than three times as likely to result in critical care admission. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 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
  • Instead, in each instance, Drury has prioritized maximizing the team’s short- or medium-term potential around star goalie Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Rozell stressed the importance of integrated AI across departments, warning that isolated use—such as different teams employing various AI tools without sharing insights—limits its potential.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of potential
Noun
  • The film’s depiction of the optimistic essence of community theater shines through in a way that feels good to be true.
    — Cortlyn Kelly, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Our ideas of surrogacy are based on a patriarchal notion that the essence of the baby is in the seed.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • At the peak of their popularity, GM was selling hundreds of thousands of Cadillacs a year, turning the brand into the ultimate American symbol of wealth and success.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2026
  • For CEOs, being frequent topics of conversation on social platforms and cable news won’t help, and growing wealth inequality across the world may only exacerbate the problem.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of wealth
Noun
  • The robot has 76 degrees of freedom (DOF) across its body, while each hand features 21 DOF, giving IRON a high degree of dexterity for manipulating objects and performing complex physical tasks.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Rudin had stepped away from producing in 2021, after a Hollywood Reporter story detailed multiple claims from Rudin’s former employees of bullying and verbal abuse as well as throwing objects at staff.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of object
Noun
  • Deposition systems add extremely thin layers of material onto a silicon wafer.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The waste includes remains of electronic equipment, plastics, construction materials and medical waste.
    — Darko Bandic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of material
Noun
  • But the high-end talent in Atlanta’s farm system isn’t quite ready for the majors, especially given the plug-and-play nature of the starting lineup.
    — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Through all of the animosity from the crowd, one that Matthews noted as particularly hostile, the up-and-down nature of the game and the spotlight Chesney brought to his team, the players appeared to be collected and poised.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of nature
Noun
  • The other military assets involved are our friends and allies in the region.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Irrevocable trusts generally can't be changed and are often used to protect assets, minimize estate taxes or manage more complex assets and family situations.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of assets
Noun
  • The Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines and a handful of other entities as part of its ongoing effort to isolate Iran's economy.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • And even though this new pork promotion entity was supposed to be independent, the NPPC essentially ran it.
    — Kenny Torrella, Vox, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of entity

Phrases Containing substance

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subspecieses
substance
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Cite this Entry

“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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