Synonyms of substitutes

substitutes 1 of 2

noun

plural of substitute

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

• replacements
• backups
• surrogates
• assistants
• subs
• reserves
• proxies
• covers
• stand-ins
• reliefs
• alternates
• fill-ins
• pinch hitters
• deputies
• designated hitters
• delegates
• locum tenentes
• agents
• makeshifts
• apologies
• seconds
• factors
• representatives
• understudies
• successors
• assignees
• commissaries
• attorneys
• reps
• relievers
• stopgaps
• envoys
• procurators
• superseders

substitutes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of substitute

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

• swaps
• exchanges
• trades
• changes
• replaces
• switches
• shifts
• commutes
• supersedes
• interchanges
• displaces
• yields
• surrenders
• cedes
• reciprocates
• hands over

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

• spells
• subs
• covers
• stands in
• fills in
• takes over
• steps in
• pinch-hits
• understudies
• relieves
• doubles (as)

3

as in replaces

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

• replaces
• supersedes
• supplants
• relieves
• displants
• displaces
• usurps
• cuts out
• preempts

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of substitutes

Noun

Sweeteners such as honey, sugar, or sugar substitutes can be added, along with lemon or lime juice, to adjust the taste as desired. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025

Slot has lost one of his real impact substitutes from last season. —James Pearce, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

Sucralose, a sweetener found in many diet sodas, low-calorie snacks and powdered sugar substitutes, could interfere with immunotherapy in cancer patients, according to research from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 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, 4 Sep. 2025

As Americans grow increasingly more health-conscious, many are looking for substitutes for certain foods and additives that researchers have deemed less-than-stellar for your longterm health. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

The sugar substitutes and sugar alcohols examined in the study were acesulfame-K, aspartame, erythritol, saccharin, sorbitol, tagatose and xylitol, which are both found in certain food products and used as standalone sweeteners. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

That’s because the federal government is launching a new program that will require pre-authorization for certain items and services, including skin and tissue substitutes, epidural steroid injection for pain management, and deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025

Other companies in China are also working to develop substitutes for Nvidia's H20 chip, the most advanced one Nvidia was allowed to sell in China before Beijing recently directed companies not to buy it. —Sean Conlon,brian Evans, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2025