as in replacements
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 & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in swaps
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 spells
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only
substituting for the talk show host while she is on vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of substitutes
Ana Morales, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
When the cost of imports rise, American firms and consumers might switch to cheaper, domestically-available substitutes.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 26 Oct. 2025
Key Takeaways Sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners are both sugar substitutes that have fewer calories than regular sugar.
—Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 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
The good news is that there are safer substitutes that can be used by the industry as more manufacturers move to reduce toxins, Glass said.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
But high-tech substitutes aren't ready.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
A week later, on September 27, the Premier League set a record for the most decisive late goals by substitutes in a single day.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering news from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 16 Oct. 2025
Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
Are you destined to live a life filled solely with tofu steaks, tempeh cubes, and frozen meat substitutes?
—Ana Morales, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
When the cost of imports rise, American firms and consumers might switch to cheaper, domestically-available substitutes.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 26 Oct. 2025
Key Takeaways Sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners are both sugar substitutes that have fewer calories than regular sugar.
—Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 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
The good news is that there are safer substitutes that can be used by the industry as more manufacturers move to reduce toxins, Glass said.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
But high-tech substitutes aren't ready.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
A week later, on September 27, the Premier League set a record for the most decisive late goals by substitutes in a single day.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering news from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
For some, the social capital of friends, community groups, and online donors now substitutes for financial capital.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substitutes
Noun
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As teams are much faster to pull the trigger on an underperforming hire, some will struggle to find competent replacements, and few will find definitive improvement.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
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Beyond pipe replacements, some residents on the east side have been waiting for the city to add sidewalks and underground gutters as many communities still have a ditch gutter system to manage the water, which can be problematic for nearby homes due to flooding risk.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Yankee Candle Home Sweet Home Large Jar Candle Right around the first week of November every year, my mom swaps her light, clean scents for Yankee Candle's Home Sweet Home, which is one of her favorites.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Walmart has three other 1-click holiday meal baskets including a Balanced Thanksgiving higher-protein meal that swaps some items from the standard meal deal, a Gluten-free Thanksgiving meal, and a Prime Rib meal basket.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The birds have survived in hordes in the deserts, but civilization nearly always spells their doom.—
Jack O'Connor,
Outdoor Life,
23 Oct. 2025
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And such prolific usage spells good things against the Panthers, who have struggled defending tight ends and running backs in the passing game this year.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Chandler, 39, replaces Michael Mullins, who was named deputy city manager by City Manager Kenny Martin.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
30 Oct. 2025
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To solve the challenge, the team created a solid-state lithium-sulfur battery that replaces most of the liquid electrolyte with solid materials.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bessent insists the rescue isn’t a bailout because under the currency swap agreement Argentina exchanges pesos for dollars.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Miami field goal After each team exchanges punts, Miami’s Carter Davis kicks a 41-yard field goal to get UM back within four of Louisville.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The grand jury indictment supersedes the criminal complaint and allows the criminal case to skip the preliminary hearing phase and move toward a trial.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
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So the longevity of her dream somehow supersedes Julia’s dream?—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Netflix said Thursday that its Board of Directors has approved a 10-for-1 forward stock split of the company’s high-flying common stock that trades at well over 1,000 a share.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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Sure, the product trades on hype, is highly volatile and has limited real-world applications.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Companies with 20 or more employees generally offer continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) that covers you and your family for up to 18 months.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals to venture capitalists, private equity funds, family offices, institutional investors and large public companies.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substitutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutes. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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