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
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of substituting
When making the switch to a plant-forward diet, Moon advised easing into it with small changes such as adding leafy greens to smoothies, using tofu in a grain bowl, and substituting animal fats for olive oil.
—
Sarah Garone, Health, 27 Aug. 2025
The value is not in substituting one expert for another, or in outsourcing fully to the machine, or indeed in presuming the human expertise will always be superior, but in leveraging human and rapidly-evolving machine capabilities to achieve best results.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
Online beverage blog Drinks with Danica recommends substituting vodka for sparkling water.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Ultimate Salted-Caramel Frosting Prepare as directed, substituting 1 Tbsp.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
Experts, like Sherry Turkle, have long warned about the dangers of substituting real relationships with artificial ones.
—Cathy Hackl, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Roberts is a mainstay at middle linebacker, but Pratt, White and Adams were substituting for one another constantly against the 49ers.
—Tashan Reed, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
Their always-on favorites include seitan asada tacos and Cubanos substituting jackfruit lechón for pork, alongside a playful cocktail menu that boasts rum, mezcal, cachaça, and tequila drinks like the pineapple–guava–passion fruit Beach Bunny, and NA sippers like the Flora 75.
—Mike Jordan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 2025
Most of the film can still be made cheaply enough, with cardboard cut-outs taking the place of extras and amusingly artificial AI substituting for establishing shots and certain visual effects.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2025
Sarah Garone, Health, 27 Aug. 2025
The value is not in substituting one expert for another, or in outsourcing fully to the machine, or indeed in presuming the human expertise will always be superior, but in leveraging human and rapidly-evolving machine capabilities to achieve best results.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
Online beverage blog Drinks with Danica recommends substituting vodka for sparkling water.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Ultimate Salted-Caramel Frosting Prepare as directed, substituting 1 Tbsp.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
Experts, like Sherry Turkle, have long warned about the dangers of substituting real relationships with artificial ones.
—Cathy Hackl, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Roberts is a mainstay at middle linebacker, but Pratt, White and Adams were substituting for one another constantly against the 49ers.
—Tashan Reed, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
Their always-on favorites include seitan asada tacos and Cubanos substituting jackfruit lechón for pork, alongside a playful cocktail menu that boasts rum, mezcal, cachaça, and tequila drinks like the pineapple–guava–passion fruit Beach Bunny, and NA sippers like the Flora 75.
—Mike Jordan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Aug. 2025
Most of the film can still be made cheaply enough, with cardboard cut-outs taking the place of extras and amusingly artificial AI substituting for establishing shots and certain visual effects.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substituting
Verb
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Carter then walked toward the Cowboys’ huddle, leading to the two exchanging words and Carter spitting on Prescott.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The Johnson County district attorney has found that a Shawnee police officer was justified to use deadly force in exchanging gunfire with a 19-year-old the officer was trying to take into custody earlier this year.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Welcome to Path to Playoff, the USA TODAY Sports newsletter covering all things college football and the chase for this year's national championship.—
Erick Smith,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
While the negative human-health effects of smoke from the Glass Fire have been well documented, the toxic brown blanket covering the Napa Valley is also devastating bee populations, said local beekeeper John Sevigny.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Interestingly enough, the Institute for Coaching Innovation believes that instead of replacing these human pillars, AI can strengthen them.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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Taking single-function controllers out of the loop and replacing them with a domain computer also cuts latency.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If those issues aren't a concern for you, there aren't many other downsides to swapping your sugar for stevia, nutrition experts say.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Threshold Chenille Knit Throw Blanket One of the easiest ways to transition home decor for the upcoming season is by swapping out smaller accent pieces.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This is despite Israeli actions long superseding the targeting of Hamas.—
Esther Brito Ruiz,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
-
And then a superseding indictment came out that was unsealed about a year and a half ago that specifically detailed Maduro's actions.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tactics will remain flexible to adapt to changing fire behavior, terrain limitations, and resource availability.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Loosely cover the jar and keep it in the fridge for up to a week, changing the water every day or two.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With the top offense and defense mostly playing against the second units — with many players subbing in and out of the latter — McCarthy was 7 for 7 with completions to four different receivers on the first drive, and completed three touchdown passes on a late red zone drill.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
20 Aug. 2025
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Fermin will serve as the nine-hole hitter, subbing in for Díaz in the only variation from Friday’s lineup.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This has forced Russia to lean heavily on China specifically in order to prop up its wartime economy and most importantly, continue trading its most important commodity crude oil.—
Earl Carr,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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Nasdaq technicals The Nasdaq is trading very close to its 50-day moving average a level that could be concerning for the broader tech trade according to Charles Schwab’s head trading and derivatives strategist Joe Mazzola.—
Frank Holland,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substituting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substituting. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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