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?

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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
  • Lee spent the morning exchanging messages with stars Youn, Melton, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac and Cailee Spaeny.
    Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 8 July 2026
  • Two Pittsburgh convenience store workers were accused of exchanging over $550,000 in food stamps for cash.
    Finch Walker, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Verb
  • Weedy vines are the scourge of many shrub plantings, covering them with unwanted foliage that causes their decline.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
  • In our newsroom this summer, 14 are engaged in a professional educational Sacbee course in journalism, working alongside our staff covering local news politics and sports; capturing visuals; and learning the ropes of audience engagement.
    Scott Lebar, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • And the more recent installments have shuffled the deck each time, with entirely new sets of lead characters replacing the old ones.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • Hydration during matches is not just about replacing fluid losses but also maintaining fuel intake, with carbohydrates supporting energy demands and electrolytes improving the palatability of drinks, helping players drink more.
    Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 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
  • Attorney Abbe Lowell entered the not guilty plea on behalf of the organization to a superseding indictment that adds details about the charges first announced in April.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • 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
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

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Cite this Entry

“Substituting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substituting. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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