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

Making memory foam breathe Cooling materials can only do so much if warm air remains trapped inside a mattress, so ventilation makes up another substantial part of the design. — New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026

In his comments, the most substantial since taking on the new role, Rezaei also claimed the US’ attack on Iran had encouraged countries to seek protection by acquiring nuclear weapons. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

The assumption is that players battling for a spot on an NFL roster, even a team's practice squad roster, could return to college football with the motivation of earning a substantial payday. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026

At just over 6-feet-8-inches tall and 4-feet-5-inches wide, the sauna is a substantial presence. — Evan Russum, Architectural Digest, 22 Aug. 2026