substantial

adjective

səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl How to pronounce substantial (audio)
Definition of substantialnext
1
as in significant
having great meaning or lasting effect substantial changes to the school dress code that made a lot of people unhappy

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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

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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

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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

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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 This perspective is important due to the substantial shedding that occurs during production. — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 3 Aug. 2026 As the incumbent who had been a sitting House member last year, Lopez enjoys a substantial advantage in fundraising. — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026 After layoffs and a substantial reduction to its artist roster, the gallery put its 8,600-square-foot Hanover Square location in London back on the market and is looking for something smaller. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Cracker Barrel had already committed substantial capital to a transformation without proving which changes customers wanted, which investments would improve restaurant economics, and which businesses still deserved a place inside the company. — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for substantial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantial
  1. significant
  2. large
  3. physical
  4. considerable
  5. major
  6. sizable
  7. concrete
  8. important
Adjective
  • Viridi stated that the partnership represents a significant step in its mission to bring safe, reliable battery energy storage to the infrastructure applications that matter most, from grid modernization research to real-world utility deployment.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Braves have made a second significant deal ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of significant
Adjective
  • Its brightest stars form a large cross, often called the Northern Cross, with Deneb marking the top and colorful double-star Albireo the base.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The emergence of additional Chinese prototypes suggests that competition between the world’s two largest military powers is extending beyond current fifth-generation aircraft into the race for future air dominance.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of large
Adjective
  • Divers rotate every 20 minutes to reduce fatigue and the physical demands of wearing nearly 100 pounds of equipment.
    — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The question is whether the cultural infrastructure will follow the physical one fast enough.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of physical
Adjective
  • But as a result, HOAs have considerable environmental policy power, affecting how entire neighborhoods use water, generate energy, provide wildlife habitat and respond to climate change.
    — Daniel Kramer, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
  • There was a considerable and expected dropoff in practice attendance at Monday’s second session open to fans.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of considerable
Adjective
  • Two of the three major GOP candidates for Minnesota governor faced off in a debate on Friday night, 11 days before the August primary.
    — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • With Jupiter returning to the predawn sky, a comet lingering and the possibility of a nova explosion, August offers almost every major kind of celestial event in a single month.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of major
Adjective
  • Reeves also notably signed over a sizable portion of his back-end deal for the Matrix sequels to members of the special-effects and costume -design departments.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026
  • For RBs, there are sizeable cliffs to be aware of, most notably early — after the elites Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, and then Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor— and following the RB33.
    — Jake Ciely, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of sizable
Adjective
  • Trump has said that using granite rather than concrete for the helipad was his suggestion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The Iraqi British architect became famous for her intensely futuristic style characterized by curving façades, sharp angles, and severe materials such as concrete and steel.
    — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of concrete
Adjective
  • The most important rule of any total solar eclipse is to be inside the narrow path of totality rather than merely close to it.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The most important way that European landscapes are changing is that unprecedented numbers of people are leaving rural areas, a phenomenon that has accelerated in the last fifty years.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of important

Browse Nearby Words

substandard
substantial
substantiality
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Cite this Entry

“Substantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantial. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on substantial

Nglish: Translation of substantial for Spanish Speakers

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