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
While these efforts may result in CDCR saving hundreds of millions of dollars, many maintain that the state needs to continue closing prisons to make substantial progress on reducing prison spending.
—
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
The children of the wealthy already start life with substantial advantages.
—Prasad Krishnamurthy, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
This early projection comes before any potential substantial roster move, of which Denver has typically made at least one between OTAs and the start of the regular season.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
And so begins a long process that puts a substantial strain on the hotel industry.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for substantial
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
The children of the wealthy already start life with substantial advantages.
—Prasad Krishnamurthy, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
This early projection comes before any potential substantial roster move, of which Denver has typically made at least one between OTAs and the start of the regular season.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
And so begins a long process that puts a substantial strain on the hotel industry.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 29 May 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
-
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
-
He was wanted in connection with three killings in the Puna District, a large rural area on the island’s east coast.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
-
The decor gets markedly more elaborate in larger suites like the Presidential Suite, with its own media room for film screenings and soaking tubs by windows with Hermes toiletries.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 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
-
There are merits to both approaches, but also considerable risks.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
Last year, when prices spent a considerable amount of time under $3 a gallon on average, gas added about a tenth of a percentage point to the company’s gross margin.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
31 May 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
-
There’s eight bedrooms across the rental, multiple indoor gathering spaces, and an 18-seat dining table that can host a sizable feast.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
31 May 2026
-
Former Current forward Nichelle Prince, traded to Boston (2-3-7) in January, had two late looks during the sizable block of injury time that followed the opening 45 minutes.—
Jeff Rosen,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 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
-
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
-
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 5 Jun. 2026.
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