Synonyms of substituting

substituting

verb

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

• exchanging
• swapping
• changing
• trading
• replacing
• switching
• shifting
• commuting
• interchanging
• displacing
• superseding
• reciprocating
• yielding
• surrendering
• ceding
• handing over

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

• covering
• spelling
• subbing
• standing in
• filling in
• taking over
• pinch-hitting
• stepping in
• relieving
• understudying
• doubling (as)

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

• replacing
• superseding
• supplanting
• relieving
• displacing
• displanting
• usurping
• preempting
• cutting out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of substituting

For the dirt topping, feel free to follow your imagination and taste, substituting or replacing any of the ingredients with your favorite chocolate cookies or treats while still keeping the visual appearance of a varied, crumbly soil. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

His reverence for her motherhood — which the film avoids asking her about, substituting discussion with endless visuals of her breastfeeding and swinging her children through the waves — echoes the themes of season one. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Instead, Brammall and Dyer came close to substituting Colin with an elderly lady, before reverting to their original premise. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026

That difference means substituting one for the other can change a dish’s character considerably. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2026

The work demonstrates a way to combine a renewable waste material with nanoscale reinforcement rather than simply substituting one material for another. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026

More concerning changes include consistently struggling to recall familiar words, substituting incorrect words, losing the meaning of common words, or experiencing memory problems that are getting worse or interfering with everyday life. — Allison Forsyth, HEALTH, 2 Sep. 2026

His character Ned Schneebly was supposed to be substituting — until Dewey impersonated him and stepped in. — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Like the Republican critics of resistance politics, progressive ones depicted it as substituting legal tactics for electoral victories. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026