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
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
The public record does not include substantive exhibits shown to the grand jurors who indicted Maxwell.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 5 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
Unlike other talk-show interviews, which often center on a promotional peg and a guest’s biography, Friedland prefers a crude yet sneakily substantive discourse.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025
The public record does not include substantive exhibits shown to the grand jurors who indicted Maxwell.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 5 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
-
Each building has deep roots in its community and is often architecturally significant.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Conant High School has significant history on the issue of trans athletes in girls' sports, after a 2015 incident and court battle over a transgender student seeking locker room access.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Safe Habits for Healthy Eyes Contact lenses offer wearers considerable convenience.—
Malana VanTyler,
AZCentral.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Further, employee reviews posted on the website Glassdoor claim that Chinese leadership still exercises considerable influence over Futurewei.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share