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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of substantive
Selina Wang,
ABC News,
20 June 2026
This transformation represents a substantive reconfiguration of the human–animal relationship in medicine and sits in tension with contemporary science policy objectives.
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Torie Bosch,
STAT,
20 June 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.
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Gordon F. Sander,
The New York Review of Books,
6 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Adjective
Iran is also already collecting sanctions relief and the ability to sell its oil, before substantive talks have even begun.
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Selina Wang,
ABC News,
20 June 2026
This transformation represents a substantive reconfiguration of the human–animal relationship in medicine and sits in tension with contemporary science policy objectives.
—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
20 June 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
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The ripple effects on public health are substantial.
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Beyond her personal belongings and the palm print, authorities found no other substantial clues at the scene of Huisentruit's disappearance.
Adjective
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The heatwave has been significant enough to prompt major fashion houses to accommodate last-minute schedule changes.
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Damaged coating can cause significant problems, leading to violations of ecological regulations and insurers’ biofoul clauses.
Adjective
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There’s considerable support for the idea in Parliament, where the Liberal Democrats — a centrist opposition party — has advocated for war bonds on 25 separate occasions since the turn of the year.
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Developed with some difficulty due to the material, which both financiers and some actors found too risqué, Sunday Bloody Sunday was eventually released to considerable acclaim, earning four nominations at the 1972 Academy Awards.
Adjective
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This puffy tote is from the same brand as a toiletry bag Oprah included on her 2025 Favorite Things list, and it’s backed by a sizable fan club (it’s been purchased more than 3,000 times in the past month alone).
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But after a long day on the slopes, your aching limbs might need a cooldown, which is where the home’s sizable indoor pool comes in.
Cite this Entry
“Substantive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantive. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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