substituting

present participle of substitute
1
as in exchanging
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

Relevance
2
as in covering
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 replacing
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 substituting In the early days of the republic, there were many radicals and reformers who shared my suspicion that patriotism was an evasion, substituting songs and speeches about liberty for the reality. Dominic Erdozain, Time, 3 July 2026 Run an empty load with hot water, substituting white vinegar for detergent. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 June 2026 In the present day, when artificial intelligence is taking over much translation work, this 500-year-old conflict reminds us that translation is never a simple matter of substituting one word for another. Michael Bruening, The Conversation, 30 June 2026 Enhance cooking by tenderizing meat with coffee grounds or substituting them for espresso powder in baked goods. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2026 Contrary to what many people assume, substituting quantum vulnerable algorithms for PQC ones is anything but a drop-and-replace exercise. Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026 Although research results are mixed, some studies show that substituting other fats in the diet with avocados may result in significant reductions in triglyceride levels. Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 18 June 2026 That creates the risk of symbolic legislation substituting for meaningful governance. Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2026 In response to high food prices, seniors may be eating less frequently and substituting less expensive items for pricier ones, such as beef, to help curb their grocery costs, Johnson said. Lorie Konish, CNBC, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substituting
Verb
  • The former couple was very public with their romance, posting photos from their getaways on Instagram and exchanging kisses at award shows.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Swift and Kelce are exchanging vows at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, according to the Associated Press.
    Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Robbie Ray threw six efficient innings after regrouping from a fall while covering first base, Willy Adames hit a two-run double as part of a four-run opening frame and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 6-4 on Saturday night.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
  • Maybe Bill Plaschke would be aware of that, and give due credit, if his hometown major newspaper bothered to have a dedicated correspondent covering one of the city’s NBA teams.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Australia answered our prayers, replacing the impressive Patrick Beach, who made an excellent save late in regulation to keep the scores level, with 34-year-old Mat Ryan in the final seconds of extra time.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Work is underway on a bridge in Caraballeda, where authorities are replacing guardrails, laying new asphalt and repairing expansion joints to restore safe travel conditions.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Luckily, there are still ways to get in your favorite greens, whether via properly washing, cooking or swapping for frozen or canned alternatives.
    Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • Effective governance should boost agility by enforcing standard interfaces and modular design, making component swapping routine and safe.
    Signe Jancis, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • The point is to protect spouses by spelling this out before a split, when things — especially finances — can get messy, according to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
    Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • But the part of the building once covered with letters spelling the president’s name is now shrouded in a tarp.
    Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Coral Springs resident Kashou was charged by a superseding indictment earlier this month in the Northern District of Texas, along with several co-defendants, with conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2026
  • That charge — misprision of a felony — was filed in a superseding information Alvarez pleaded to, which followed the original indictment.
    Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Trust her to direct you to the right bottle on her concise, personal list, or to pour you a glass of something exciting from a nightly-changing selection.
    Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Space has spent decades in a similar space, as a technology that is impressive but not yet ordinary, but that may finally be changing.
    Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • The Midnight riff comes to us from Sam Ross, then of the legendary Milk & Honey, and turns the classic into a sour, bringing lemon juice to tart up the old Stinger profile but subbing bourbon for Cognac and Fernet Branca for the mint liqueur.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 4 July 2026
  • Edin Džeko, Bosnia’s 40-year-old striker and all-time leading scorer, made his first start of this World Cup after subbing in their last two games; Džeko was among three Bosnians rotated out six minutes after halftime.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Substituting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substituting. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on substituting

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster