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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nominal
Related Words
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
Dr. Nikki Romanik, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
This is politics and there isn't any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown.
—John Parkinson, ABC News, 30 Sep. 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
This is just one example of the backsliding of America to vilify the LGBTQ community to appease a political base distracted by identity politics over substantive issues of national concern—regardless of the scientific and moral justification of such a change.
—Dr. Nikki Romanik, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
This is politics and there isn't any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown.
—John Parkinson, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantive
Adjective
-
Netflix, which has invested heavily in sports through NFL, boxing and docuseries agreements, will gain access to Simmons’ substantial audience in the athletics genre.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
This was a substantial boost for a team that held odds of around +850 to +1100 before Sunday’s kickoff.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Studies show that fines that don’t put a significant dent in a company’s profit don’t deter companies from future violations, Leffel said.—
Anjeanette Damon,
ProPublica,
10 Oct. 2025
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These real-time notifications act as an early warning system, giving you a chance to lock down your accounts before significant damage occurs.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Hoka Rincon 4 One of the most affordable options on our list, the Hoka Rincon 4 has earned high praise from shoppers for its considerable comfort, support, and cushion.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Working with the local council, emergency services and Transport for London, plans for an extra 10,000 (possibly more) people to safely arrive and leave the area are a considerable obstacle.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s not a real sizable business for us.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
14 Oct. 2025
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Other models, such as the flagship of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, also featured sizable errors, the official said.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substantive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantive. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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