substitute 1 of 3

substitute

2 of 3

adjective

substitute

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to exchange
to give up (something) and take something else in return can I substitute coleslaw for potato salad if I order the chicken plate?

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to spell
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only substituting for the talk show host while she is on vacation

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to replace
to take the place of "John Doe," "Jane Doe," and "Baby Doe" substituted the real names of the parties involved to preserve their privacy

Synonyms & Similar 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 substitute
Noun
There were no adults in the room because the drama teacher was on leave and the substitute hadn’t arrived from another campus, Chris Kamo said. Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2025 Childs uses vital wheat gluten to make most of the protein-rich meat substitutes, but ingredients like tofu and hearts of palm are also used. Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The 30-year-old has gone from being fourth-choice goalkeeper at Wolves, making one substitute appearance in his two seasons at Molineux, to third-choice at Everton. Tim Spiers, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025 However, critics say just about anyone could claim to be a substitute caregiver under the legislation’s loose definition, thereby potentially endangering children rather than protecting them. Dan Walters, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. K. H. Koehler, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025 Customers can substitute Avocado Ranch for a milder option. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for substitute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substitute
Noun
  • The event had been scheduled as a replacement for the 2026 All-Star Weekend, which had previously been awarded to the New York Islanders.
    Chris Johnston, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Given last year's halftime show drawing over 127 million viewers, Bad Bunny may not need to lose sleep over 50,000 signees calling for his replacement.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Established in 2024, the group is named after the synthetic chemical element Bk, discovered in and named after the city of Berkeley in 1949.
    Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The vessel has other eco details such as synthetic teak that replicates authentic teak in both looks and the ability to stay cool underfoot, a bio-resin in the layup, among others.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Sensitive sleepers who crave the feel of a firm down pillow can turn to this hypoallergenic down alternative fill.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Observe the actual landing cost, including any hidden costs and delays, and move 20–30 percent of manufacturing to alternative arrangements.
    Vitalii Savryha, Sourcing Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The comments came as Israel and Hamas exchanged the bodies of captives, a key demand of the truce.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2025
  • For their part, Max and Christian fight before docking and exchange some F-bombs on the bow just for good measure.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The one looking most likely at this point could spell disaster for parts of Hispaniola; the other could eventually take Melissa close to Central America.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The kids can’t spell and the world leaders are senile.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The last American to compete in the pinnacle of motorsport was Logan Sargeant, who raced for Williams for nearly two years before the team replaced him.
    Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Now, more often than not, they are replaced by casual dinners, drinks and thoughtful gestures.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This faux Dunhill Fir is designed to look and feel like a tree plucked straight off the lot, without the single-season lifespan or mess of shedding needles.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • That kind of skeuomorphism—the design of a digital interface to resemble a physical one, by, for example, adding a faux-metal texture to a calculator app—has been out of fashion for more than a decade, ever since Apple moved away from it in the early twenty-tens.
    Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, aging aircraft fleets and a wave of retirements have created an urgent demand for new technicians.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
  • In this new study featuring more than 1,000 participants at 244 sites in 17 countries, patients received either enzalutamide plus leuprolide (the combination group), leuprolide (the leuprolide-alone group), or enzalutamide monotherapy (the monotherapy group).
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Substitute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitute. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on substitute

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!