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
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Recent Examples of substantial
Originally a sweet rice fritter served with café au lait, Muhammad turned it savory, packing his batter with salmon for a more substantial bite.
—
Jessi Roti, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 June 2026
The runners-up route would nonetheless involve substantial travel and multiple time-zone transitions — a reminder that in 2026, a more thermally forgiving path does not necessarily mean a less demanding one.
—Alan McCall, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Pritzker, who’s running for a third term as governor and harbors presidential aspirations, likes to claim substantial economic development wins during his eight years in Springfield.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
According to the Washington Examiner, a senior administration official has attested to Trump’s belief that the only way to secure meaningful change in Iran is through substantial escalation.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for substantial
Jessi Roti, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 June 2026
The runners-up route would nonetheless involve substantial travel and multiple time-zone transitions — a reminder that in 2026, a more thermally forgiving path does not necessarily mean a less demanding one.
—Alan McCall, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Pritzker, who’s running for a third term as governor and harbors presidential aspirations, likes to claim substantial economic development wins during his eight years in Springfield.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
According to the Washington Examiner, a senior administration official has attested to Trump’s belief that the only way to secure meaningful change in Iran is through substantial escalation.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for substantial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantial
Adjective
-
Officials described the discovery as a significant blow to criminal organizations that rely on underground smuggling routes to move narcotics and other contraband across the border.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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The concerns stem from baseball's history of labor disputes and the significant divide between the league and the MLB Players Association on several economic issues.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The largest open-air living history museum in the Shenandoah Valley is expanding to include an indoor gallery space by 2027.—
Staff,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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So do the large pink or queen conch, the fighting conch, the tulip band shell, the helmet shells and the cask shells.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
At the time, detectives collected and preserved physical evidence but were unable to narrow down a suspect.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
As for agentic commerce, in Jain’s framing, only Google, Anthropic, and Bilt have the breadth of demand-side merchant integrations to power AI commerce in the physical world.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Like Adams, Richards’ importance stems from both his own talent and the considerable dropoff from him to the other options on the Americans’ roster.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
-
Given that Toy Story 4 earned 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed over $1 billion worldwide, expectations are considerable.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Today’s roundup covers major local food news, a tightening governor’s race, and a homicide arrest in North Sacramento.—
Ruyuan Li. Story produced with AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
5 June 2026
-
One major contributor, the docuseries seems to argue, is the downfall of the prosecution at the hands of its own witnesses.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
The group is unpopular among many in the country’s sizeable Christian minority.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
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Upstairs, the primary suite is a sizable offering with its own balcony and sitting room.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Following Guthrie's prying, Lopez eventually caved in with a concrete answer.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
Newcastle would ideally like to keep him and, although interest is anticipated, nothing concrete has arrived.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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China is North Korea’s top economic lifeline, accounting for the vast majority of the country’s foreign trade, and has long ranked as Pyongyang’s most important diplomatic partner.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
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This year, owing to a mixup in the congressional budget, one of the government’s most important scholarships was left severely underfunded, depriving thousands of Peru’s neediest high-school graduates of the opportunity to continue their studies at local universities.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantial. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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