as in substantial
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention
they've made substantive changes in the nightly newscast
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nominal
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of substantive
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
She was invited to testify before the committee but refused to answer any substantive questions earlier this year.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Only seventeen members of Harmony, the party that represents the Russian minority and commands a substantive if declining amount of support, and two nonaffiliated members were opposed.
—Gordon F. Sander, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Adjective
There won’t be any substantive discussion about access to weapons, right?
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
She was invited to testify before the committee but refused to answer any substantive questions earlier this year.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
California’s climate agenda mixes the symbolic with the substantive.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Only seventeen members of Harmony, the party that represents the Russian minority and commands a substantive if declining amount of support, and two nonaffiliated members were opposed.
—Gordon F. Sander, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantive
Adjective
-
The motion also argued that Chris Gerodemos was a present danger to extortion Victim #2 and his entire family, if released, and a substantial risk to threaten, injure, or intimidate a prospective witness.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
The new era of college basketball, with unlimited transfers, players and their agents negotiating substantial salaries and big schools’ poaching of the best mid-major players – there’s no other way to put it – only increases the distance between the power schools and everyone else.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
The week the book was published, WGA members were voting to ratify a new contract that includes a bailout of the union’s ailing health fund and significant increases in health insurance costs.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
4 May 2026
-
Trump and his backers lost dozens of lawsuits claiming fraud, and numerous recounts, reviews and audits of the election results turned up no signs of significant wrongdoing or error.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The case for and against a redo The obstacles to a redo are considerable, starting with the obvious security concerns.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
-
Given the complaint’s estimate that Temu is responsible for over 10,000 spam emails to Californians each year, the company encounters considerable potential liability in a state that is a primary battleground for digital privacy rights.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hotel workers take aim at Park Meanwhile, a different union is doing its own sizable spend.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
But not everyone has the money to make a sizable purchase.—
Jasmin Suknanan,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substantive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantive. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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