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
Brittany Poulson, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025
There are no substitutes named, nor a coach.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Many women did so, forswearing British wares, spinning flax on town greens, and swapping handwritten patriotic verse while drinking herbal-tea substitutes.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Many meat substitutes are ultra-processed, filled with sodium, inflammatory oils, and synthetic additives like methylcellulose and soy protein isolate.
—Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, CNBC, 10 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, 9 Oct. 2025
But the substitutes are all over the map.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Other vegan protein sources like tofu and tempeh also make for great meat substitutes (and serve as blank canvases for flavor).
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 8 Oct. 2025
But Sentnor was pleased with the patience the group of starters showed, noting the importance of the energy the substitutes brought to the game.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
Use them as meat substitutes (lentil chili, bean burger).
—Brittany Poulson, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025
There are no substitutes named, nor a coach.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Many women did so, forswearing British wares, spinning flax on town greens, and swapping handwritten patriotic verse while drinking herbal-tea substitutes.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Many meat substitutes are ultra-processed, filled with sodium, inflammatory oils, and synthetic additives like methylcellulose and soy protein isolate.
—Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, CNBC, 10 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, 9 Oct. 2025
But the substitutes are all over the map.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Other vegan protein sources like tofu and tempeh also make for great meat substitutes (and serve as blank canvases for flavor).
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 8 Oct. 2025
But Sentnor was pleased with the patience the group of starters showed, noting the importance of the energy the substitutes brought to the game.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 7 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
-
The need for replacements was extreme and exacerbated as battle casualties in the European theater increased from 31,617 in October 1944 to 77,726 in December and non-battle casualties from 28,364 to 56,695.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Following their performances as Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene in The Passion of the Christ (2004), Deadline can confirm that Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci will not reprise their role in the sequel, which is currently casting their replacements in Rome.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a bid to show Arj that money doesn’t buy happiness, Gabriel swaps his life with Jeff’s, setting off a chaotic week of rich-and-poor, Freaky Friday-esque hijinks.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Armani Beauty’s Lip Power Longwear Satin Lipstick delivers the pigmentation and staying power of a matte, but swaps a potentially harsh, line-accentuating finish for a soft, almost-balm-like satin.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
A lot of this occurs off-page, in contrast to the movie, which spells things out incredibly plainly.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The new design replaces these metals with riboflavin, which is stable even at the high pH levels needed for glucose electrolytes.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Nothing, however, replaces cruising around stacks of books at a real bookstore, thumbing through the tomes that catch your eye.—
Terri Daxon,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tole works for a company that exchanges commercial frying oil and was parked in a loading dock area of a hotel.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Though The Wrong Paris exchanges the City of Lights for the Lone Star State, that doesn't stop Dawn from falling for Trey (Pierson Fodé), The Honeypot bachelor that the other girls are vying for.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
So the longevity of her dream somehow supersedes Julia’s dream?—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Roundhill said the Meme Stock ETF, which launched again on Wednesday, trades under the ticker MEME.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Meanwhile, trades for quarterbacks during the season are equally as rare.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Alphonse Pierre’s Off the Dome column covers songs, mixtapes, albums, scenes, snippets, movies, Meek Mill tweets, fashion trends—and anything else that catches his attention.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
17 Oct. 2025
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One ounce of pumpkin seeds covers 20% of the DV for zinc.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substitutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutes. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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