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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Spriha Srivastava, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
The New Yorker at 100 is a glossier, more star-studded, but generally less substantive documentary take than the magazine’s devoted readers probably crave.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 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
With tariffs threatening supply chains and markets watching for signs of fragmentation, summits like these are closely watched for signals of new alignments, even if substantive outcomes are limited.
—Spriha Srivastava, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
The New Yorker at 100 is a glossier, more star-studded, but generally less substantive documentary take than the magazine’s devoted readers probably crave.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantive
Adjective
-
OpenAI also says there is a 45 percent to 65 percent reduction in factual errors over GPT-4, depending on the setting, as well as substantial gains in handling medical and coding tasks on industry-standard benchmarks.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
One brother for at least $100,000 over the years, the other somewhat less but still substantial – new cars, medical bills and other things.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The aircraft represents a significant investment of about $200 million for a single plane.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
-
However, there's a significant difference between containing and controlling a wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The prize money at the US Open has seen considerable growth over the years.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Nonetheless, London City Lionesses emerged with considerable credit from their first game at this level.—
Asif Burhan,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Delaying this meal was linked with greater risk of death in a sizable 20-year study.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
4 Sep. 2025
-
It is surrounded by a sizeable black bezel.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substantive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantive. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share