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

While theatrical distribution has gotten substantial attention as Paramount has sought regulatory approval for the WBD acquisition, much less focus has been paid to cable distribution, a sector of the industry that has been in decline. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 July 2026

View gallery - 7 images With its substantial size and lack of wheels or trailer, the Evergreen XL isn't a good fit for would-be nomads. — Adam Williams july 12, New Atlas, 13 July 2026

According to Counterpoint, this substantial drop brings smartphone shipments to their lowest second-quarter level since 2013. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026

In the move, a company will restructure, dividing itself into two or more distinct entities, and then transfer valuable assets to one entity, leaving the other with substantial liabilities. — Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2026