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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 substantial
But Machado still has not appeared publicly, González remains in exile in Spain, and the opposition has not yet mounted any substantial public protest.
—
Michael Albertus, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Chen said the group has seen a flurry of substantial payouts since then.
—David Wilson, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
But beneath the surface, substantial issues threatened their long-term success.
—Harvard Business Review, 7 Jan. 2026
But this ideological commitment came with substantial costs for Iranians.
—Kamran Talattof, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for substantial
Michael Albertus, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Chen said the group has seen a flurry of substantial payouts since then.
—David Wilson, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
But beneath the surface, substantial issues threatened their long-term success.
—Harvard Business Review, 7 Jan. 2026
But this ideological commitment came with substantial costs for Iranians.
—Kamran Talattof, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for substantial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantial
Adjective
-
Credit card interest rates represent a significant portion of financial institutions’ revenue.—
Luciana Lopez,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
-
That figure marks a significant drop from a recent peak attained in 2023, but borrowing costs remain well above a 0% rate established at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Unitree confirmed that the G1 is designed as a compact, foldable humanoid focused on affordability and scalability, while the larger H2 targets industrial applications.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In Europe, where Panattoni has operated for around 20 years, the platform spans 15 countries through 36 offices and has been the region's largest developer for eight consecutive years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
So commences a night of harrowing encounters and trauma both physical and mental, starting with Ron and Mike’s trip to meet Oliver at a bar after one of his shows.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Perez does not break down training into physical and tactical work, instead designing complex exercises so players build fitness while practising real-game situations.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Colorado football's third season with Deion Sanders at the helm has been met with considerable headwinds.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The pleasant, polished drama provides a compassionate take on a high schooler undergoing considerable change, its only debit being the arguably too-neat depiction of that transitional circumstance.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Obviously, injuries are playing a major factor, but will the Sabres even be able to stay afloat until the lineup is fully healthy?—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This compact yet sizable belt bag has a simple silhouette that looks very similar to the one Diaz just wore.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Highly revered for its outdoorsy facilities, the low-slung La Reserve Hotel and Spa Geneva occupies a sizable, green patch alongside its namesake lake.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Each state is left to make its own decisions, and young people lack concrete rights and protections across the board.—
Dana Perino,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The blast was set off on a concrete surface to replicate an urban environment, with air temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius, typical of mild weather conditions.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
-
While collective structure and movements are really important for Perez’s teams, his players must actively think about each decision on the pitch, not just robotically follow instructions from the coaching staff.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantial. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share