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
Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
The ongoing legal drama surrounding the audit, approved by 72% of Massachusetts voters in the 2024 election, has become quite the political hot potato for Healey, who has publicly expressed her support for the audit, but has not gone beyond that with any substantive actions.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 9 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.
—Gordon F. Sander, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Adjective
On defense, the party has deep substantive differences.
—Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
The ongoing legal drama surrounding the audit, approved by 72% of Massachusetts voters in the 2024 election, has become quite the political hot potato for Healey, who has publicly expressed her support for the audit, but has not gone beyond that with any substantive actions.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 9 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
-
An indigent defense commission in Michigan, which was formed by the legislature in 2013, has led to significant reforms and a substantial influx in state funding.—
Anat Rubin,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
For gardeners who have been slightly more lenient in their control efforts, this means that populations already present are now likely to become significantly more substantial, with a core breeding population already large to begin with.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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Though the Guardians have a share of first place with the White Sox and a three-game cushion over the Athletics in wild-card positioning, the club is about to weather some significant time without José Ramírez or Chase DeLauter.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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The system has a 60 percent chance of becoming a tropical storm, with significant impacts possible across the Deep South.—
Ben Noll,
Washington Post,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Three other vehicles were all stopped a short distance away, each of which also appeared to have sustained considerable damage, with at least two sets of air bags deployed.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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And the resounding manner of Burnham’s win – comprehensively defeating Reform weeks after Labour was routed in local elections – gives him considerable momentum too.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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In an interview with CBS News Texas, Hernandez said the Latino vote will have a sizable impact on the midterm elections in November.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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Republicans are considering a sizable, $350-billion-plus increase in Defense spending on par with the White House’s budget request that the GOP could pass on its own, through the reconciliation process that allows Senate majority rule over potential objections from Democrats.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substantive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantive. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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