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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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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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 And a split Republican Party will give them a substantial boost in votes to demand a new direction in the war effort. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026 Both houses of Congress flipped, giving Democrats a substantial majority in each. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2026 His hourlong chat with Price in 1987 is considered the most substantial interview the horror legend ever gave. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2026 While budgeting adjustments and additional income can help borrowers make some progress, those carrying substantial high-rate balances may need to consider options that address the cost or structure of their debt. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 Nov. 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
  • However, developing electrolytes that can transport fluoride ions efficiently at room temperature has remained a significant challenge.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • But there are good reasons to think the shift can still prove significant for global climate action.
    — Laurence Tubiana, Time, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of significant
Adjective
  • In 2023, authorities interrupted a Sunday church class to warn Gu and Cui that their church had become too large, Gu said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Developing ultra-large autonomous underwater vehicles involves significant engineering challenges, including navigation, endurance, communications, payload integration, manufacturing, and operational reliability.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of large
Adjective
  • As on Does Spring Hide Its Joy, the question of who is making what sound—of what physical processes generated the music that now floats from a pair of headphones—loses its charge within a few minutes.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The acquisition adds expertise in developing AI systems that allow robots to understand their environments and perform physical tasks.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of physical
Adjective
  • Targets household robotics Meta’s reported design requirements place considerable emphasis on how the robot perceives and communicates with people.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
  • View gallery - 5 images High-performance electric dirt bikes are becoming increasingly capable, but stepping into the more powerful end of the market often requires a considerable investment.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of considerable
Adjective
  • Researchers in Italy have developed a polymer membrane that allows fluoride ions to move through a battery electrolyte at room temperature, addressing a major obstacle to the development of next-generation fluoride-ion batteries.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Nationally, Democrats picked up seven Senate seats Tuesday, gaining firm control of the upper chamber and making major inroads in Republican strongholds such as Texas.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of major
Adjective
  • Lincoln currently does not have paramedics on its fire crews, despite having a sizable population of residents ages 55 and older.
    — Steve Large, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • This week’s matchup doesn’t offer much more appeal as Jacksonville should be a sizable favorite, and while Tennessee has been more competitive than its 1-7 record suggests, Strange remains a streaming option at best.
    — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of sizable
Adjective
  • Death row, a cavernous hull of a building with multiple stories of concrete cells reaching up toward a ceiling so decrepit that birds roosted inside, was transformed.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The precinct's architecture is heavy, concrete, and borderline Brutalist, but not at all ugly.
    — Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of concrete
Adjective
  • In a world in which answers are increasingly easy to generate, the more important skill is knowing what to ask.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The radar systems are expected to provide an important detection and tracking layer within the broader US counter-UAS architecture.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 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 12 Nov. 2026.

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