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

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

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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 Admitted differences of that kind cannot satisfy the substantial-similarity standard. — Chris Willman, Variety, 6 July 2026 For Adrian Black, the trial marked the beginning of a substantial improvement in his cognitive symptoms. — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 6 July 2026 The 23-year-old man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University will be in court this week for the most substantial hearing so far in his murder case. — ABC News, 5 July 2026 Mayra Uribe, a sitting county commissioner from south of Orlando, had a substantial fundraising haul of her own with $808,000. — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 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
  • That’s reigniting age-old feuds about production quotas that already led the United Arab Emirates, one of OPEC’s most significant members, to leave the group in April.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • It is recommended that any batteries in devices that will be stored for significant periods should undergo a maintenance routine to maintain their health by charging them to half capacity every six months.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of significant
Adjective
  • The Hyundai Motor Company used one of the world’s largest sporting stages to showcase its robotics ambitions.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • A number of Russian regions have banned the use of large canisters that hold around five gallons to prevent fuel hoarding.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of large
Adjective
  • While Real-world data collection is slow, linear, and bound by physical time, generative 3D world models provide a pipeline for synthetic data generation at scale.
    — Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • Some people wore the damage of physical or mental disease, addiction, poverty, or all of the above.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of physical
Adjective
  • The moves come as nostalgia continues to drive a considerable chunk of the music industry’s profits.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2026
  • Also expected to draw considerable interest are individual talks on how to co-produce with Italy, Canada, Spain, France, Chile, Mexico and Argentina, hosted by reps from each territory.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 6 July 2026
Definition of considerable
Adjective
  • Maybe Bill Plaschke would be aware of that, and give due credit, if his hometown major newspaper bothered to have a dedicated correspondent covering one of the city’s NBA teams.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Some of these storms could be severe and deliver damaging wind gusts, but any thunderstorm will contain lightning — a major danger for any outdoor activities, especially for anyone trying to escape the heat in or on the water.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of major
Adjective
  • The hard-right Vox party at one stage even reached out to Latinos, now a sizable voting bloc, assuming that Catholic, Evangelical, and anti-Communist members of those communities would share right-wing values.
    — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 July 2026
  • Other states with sizable contingents include West Virginia, Nebraska, Florida and Louisiana.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of sizable
Adjective
  • Shoring jacks are heavy-duty adjustable props used to temporarily support vertical structures such as ceilings, concrete slabs and walls.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
  • Jurado said the company did not provide concrete public commitments, funding amounts or implementation timelines for the relief and recovery measures requested.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 8 July 2026
Definition of concrete
Adjective
  • One interesting trend is that this tournament will feature some very good tight ends, a position that has become increasingly important in college football and the NFL but not so much in high school football in the era of spread offenses.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • As technology becomes more sophisticated and the number of living survivors continues to decline, preserving authentic testimony becomes even more important.
    — Eva Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 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 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on substantial

Nglish: Translation of substantial for Spanish Speakers

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