Synonyms of substantial

substantial

adjective

səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl 

1

as in significant

having great meaning or lasting effect

substantial changes to the school dress code that made a lot of people unhappy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• significant
• major
• important
• historic
• big
• much
• meaningful
• monumental
• tectonic
• exceptional
• momentous
• distinguished
• consequential
• remarkable
• eventful
• weighty
• pivotal
• material
• outstanding
• earthshaking
• decisive
• serious
• notable
• earth-shattering
• noteworthy
• distinctive
• strategic
• prominent
• great
• worthy
• valuable
• seminal
• impressive
• crucial
• fatal
• worthwhile
• earnest
• sincere
• fateful
• key
• critical
• famous
• eminent
• grave
• central
• prestigious
• essential
• illustrious
• heavy
• all-important
• vital
• notorious
• renowned
• noble
• preeminent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• small
• little
• minor
• slight
• negligible
• insignificant
• trivial
• inconsiderable
• unimportant
• trifling
• inconsequential
• worthless
• petty
• paltry
• unknown
• obscure
• anonymous
• nameless
• uncelebrated

2

as in large

of a size greater than average of its kind

the amount he inherited was quite substantial, so he quit his job and set out to see the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

• large
• considerable
• sizable
• big
• huge
• great
• vast
• oversize
• handsome
• tidy
• colossal
• staggering
• tremendous
• excessive
• massive
• enormous
• voluminous
• gigantic
• hefty
• bulky
• outsize
• goodly
• ample
• immense
• grand
• major
• husky
• largish
• extravagant
• boxcar
• mammoth
• spacious
• biggish
• astronomical
• appreciable
• monumental
• stupendous
• prodigious
• gargantuan
• plentiful
• mountainous
• hulking
• humongous
• inordinate
• cosmic
• whopping
• copious
• super
• abundant
• monolithic
• exorbitant
• extreme
• cavernous
• titanic
• elephantine
• gross
• monstrous
• galactic
• herculean
• heroic
• jumbo
• thick
• bumper
• immoderate
• cyclopean
• Himalayan
• pharaonic
• vasty
• Brobdingnagian
• supersized
• walloping
• whacking
• hellacious
• commodious
• leviathan
• king-size
• capacious
• super-duper
• roomy
• Bunyanesque
• fat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• small
• little
• smallish
• puny
• dwarf
• dinky
• tiny
• undersized
• dwarfish
• minuscule
• infinitesimal
• microscopic
• diminutive
• miniature
• mini
• wee
• teensy
• little bitty
• slight
• teeny
• minute
• shrimpy
• pocket-size
• bantam
• pygmy
• Lilliputian
• thin
• slender
• half-pint
• slim
• petite
• teensy-weensy
• teeny-weeny
• microminiature
• pint-size

3

as in physical

relating to or composed of matter

the Land of Oz turned out to be a world of dreams, even less substantial than a rainbow

Synonyms & Similar Words

• physical
• concrete
• tangible
• visible
• material
• noticeable
• apparent
• solid
• appreciable
• objective
• discernible
• perceptible
• massive
• detectable
• observable
• corporeal
• embodied
• sensible
• bodily
• phenomenal
• palpable
• heavy
• corporal
• carnal
• hefty
• bulky
• weighty
• ponderous
• seeable
• touchable
• fleshly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• immaterial
• nonmaterial
• nonphysical
• insubstantial
• unsubstantial
• incorporeal
• disembodied
• intangible
• invisible
• formless
• imperceptible
• thin
• ethereal
• bodiless
• discarnate
• unnoticeable
• tenuous
• spiritual
• impalpable
• vaporous
• insensible
• unbodied
• metaphysical
• diaphanous
• airy
• wispish
• gossamery

4

as in considerable

sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention

there's been a substantial increase in attendance at girls' volleyball games ever since the start of their winning streak

Synonyms & Similar Words

• considerable
• significant
• sizable
• major
• tremendous
• good
• huge
• substantive
• big
• respectable
• handsome
• great
• healthy
• massive
• goodly
• tidy
• largish
• biggish
• enormous
• voluminous
• hefty
• colossal
• gigantic
• immense
• bulky
• oversize
• prodigious
• monumental
• outsize
• mammoth
• astronomical
• whopping
• monstrous
• titanic
• herculean
• jumbo
• hulking
• elephantine
• bumper
• king-size

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• negligible
• nominal
• insignificant
• inconsiderable
• insubstantial
• inconsequential
• trivial
• marginal
• unimportant
• trifling
• slight
• meager
• petty
• small
• puny
• paltry
• little
• minute
• tiny
• piddling
• measly
• picayune
• undersized
• smallish
• pocket
• diminutive
• miniature
• picayunish
• bitty
• pocket-size
• pygmy
• pint-size

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of substantial

Rain totals are expected to be higher along the coast, with significantly more along the northern coast and at higher elevation, where the atmospheric river will be felt as substantial snow accumulation. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 13 Nov. 2026

From the perspective of the national economy, technological progress and global competition produced substantial benefits. — Todd Jick, Time, 13 Nov. 2026

This will require substantial reform to restore these institutions’ legitimacy and their capacity to act, prioritizing measures that will contribute the most to peace and security. — Pedro Sánchez, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2026

The idea is that even substantial pieces should feel intuitive to wear, rather than requiring an occasion or a particular wardrobe. — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Nov. 2026