Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

substitute

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of substitute

1 being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials
  • substitute wools that supposedly have the look and feel of cashmere
Synonyms of substitute

artificial, bogus, dummy, ersatz, factitious, fake, false, faux, imitation, imitative, man-made, mimic, mock, pretend, sham, simulated, synthetic
Words Related to substitute

cultured, manufactured, process

unauthentic

adulterated, designer, doctored, engineered, fudged, juggled, manipulated, tampered (with)

concocted, fabricated

counterfeit, deceptive, forged, fraudulent, misleading, phony (also phoney)

affected, brummagem, feigned, pinchbeck, pseudo, spurious
Near Antonyms of substitute

authentic, bona fide, legitimate, true

premium, quality, valuable

pure, unadulterated
Antonyms of substitute

genuine, natural, real
2 taking the place of one that came before
  • had to find substitute transportation during the bus strike
Synonyms of substitute

makeshift, new, substitutive
Words Related to substitute

alternate, alternative, pinch

different, other, separate

extra, spare

improvised, jury

another, second

utility

successive

equivalent
Near Antonyms of substitute

first, former

equal, identical, same

lasting, permanent
Antonyms of substitute

original

substitute

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of substitute

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

change, commute, exchange, shift, swap, switch, trade
Words Related to substitute

interchange

displace, replace, supersede

cede, hand over, surrender, yield

reciprocate
2 to serve as a replacement usually for a time only
  • substituting for the talk show host while she is on vacation
Synonyms of substitute

cover, fill in, pinch-hit, stand in, step in, sub, take over
Words Related to substitute

understudy

relieve, spell

double (as)
3 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 of substitute

cut out, displace, displant, relieve, replace, supersede, supplant
Words Related to substitute

preempt, usurp

substitute

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of substitute

a person or thing that takes the place of another
  • you'll be getting a substitute until your regular teacher is feeling better
  • if you like, you can use nuts as a substitute for coconut in that recipe
Synonyms of substitute

backup, cover, designated hitter, fill-in, locum tenens, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, reserve, stand-in, sub
Words Related to substitute

alternate, understudy

apology, makeshift, stopgap

agent, assignee, attorney, commissary, delegate, deputy, envoy, factor, procurator, proxy, rep, representative, surrogate

assistant, reliever, second

successor, superseder

Learn More about substitute

  1. See words that rhyme with substitute Dictionary: Definition of substitute Medical Dictionary: Definition of substitute Spanish Central: Translation of substitute Nglish: Translation of substitute for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of substitute for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up substitute? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

decoct

Listen to the pronounciation of decoct

to boil down or concentrate

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. whitewash Emanuel speaks on dropped charges

  2. exonerate Barr summarizes Mueller report

  3. catamount Vermont enters the Round of 64

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games