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
-
As a pattern of intimidation, isolation, humiliation and controlling behavior, coercive control can be as damaging as physical abuse.—
Oona Metz,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Felton’s confessions, both to his father and to police, were corroborated by location data and physical evidence, the complaint says.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot) is the only considerable contributor inactive with injury.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
-
In theory, this engine could achieve escape velocity from the Solar System, but would also produce considerable heat and radiation that would need to be safely contained.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
José, Johnny, Saleem, Adolfo or Carlos had spent the penultimate day of 1973 preparing to shoot dead Joseph Edward Sieff, the Jewish president of Marks & Spencer, a major retail chain whose upmarket shops were to be found on high streets across Britain, and a prominent supporter of Israel.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The Trust for Public Land releases a yearly ranking of major cities in the US based on their residents’ access to public recreation areas – the city of Los Angeles ranks an embarrassing 90th, highlighting that access is undoubtedly a concern.—
Rafael Perez,
Daily News,
16 Jan. 2026
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
-
Of course, there’s no place on the property that feels more distinctly of The Sunshine State than the backyard, where the couple replaced the concrete pool surround with grass and turf for a play-friendly, garden-like atmosphere and cobbled together plenty of spots for hosting relaxed gatherings.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities installed concrete barriers outside the federal building following protests.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
As robots move into public infrastructure, wireless reliability becomes just as important as mechanical design.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Each person played a very very important part in it.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantial. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
