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
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
Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
The key question, of course, is whether anything substantive will change in American policy toward Israel.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Adjective
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
Noun
Together’s cast and special effects department alone could make for a substantive horror classic, but the script is freighted with distracting cliches and errant plot developments.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
The key question, of course, is whether anything substantive will change in American policy toward Israel.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantive
Adjective
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In other news as the feature enters post-production, Collins has announced a substantial equity investment into his production company This Seems Reel Entertainment.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 Aug. 2025
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The operational efficiency gains are substantial enough to justify rebuilding treasury operations around crypto infrastructure.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Many of them even took him on in races from the blocks, with Phelps often giving the Ravens players a significant head start before diving in.—
Sophie Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Ultimately, Putin does not appear to have yet changed his war calculus, and experts highlighted that there are some significant differences between Putin and his Soviet predecessor, Gorbachev, that make this upcoming talk vastly different.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Stam had gambling issues, the court was told, and had become addicted to nitrous oxide, as well as running up considerable debts and finding his life in danger for owing money to the wrong people.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
13 Aug. 2025
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Be aware, though, that this option will involve a considerable expense, since you will be required to pay the entire premium (the employer will no longer pay what is usually a substantial share).—
Elisabeth Rosenthal,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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With the score, Rivera surged to an early and sizable lead.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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In the interim silence, a sizable amount of scholarly work was churned out.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substantive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantive. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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