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

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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 As of the publishing of this review, CPU teams are allowing guys to simply smoke themselves rather than properly substituting. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026 At the same time, these platforms aren’t substituting for traditional employment. Jacob Lederman, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026 Try substituting chicken broth for the water to add a little extra flavor to the dish. Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2026 Terraza enjoys substituting guava for quince or pear in dessert recipes for a fun, tropical twist. Su-Jit Lin, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026 Sunmaxxing itself is free, but a commercial layer has formed around tracking it, coaching it or substituting for it when the sun is not cooperating. Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substituting
Verb
  • Swift and Kelce married in New York City on July 3, exchanging vows at Madison Square Garden in front of approximately 1,000 guests.
    Hannah Malach, InStyle, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Dobrindt also pointed to the possibility of exchanging explosives for harmless substances.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Journalists argue this creates a severe conflict of interest and raises critical data security concerns, especially given past assaults on reporters covering immigration enforcement.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Said alleges that the companies later mishandled her requests for medical accommodations following an assignment covering the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
    Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Watford dropped from 13th to 17th under Walter Mazzarri, and Southampton regressed two places after replacing Ronald Koeman with Claude Puel.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • For the industry, replacing the cryptography may be easier than deciding how to implement the migration.
    Joshua Hong, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Walsh added that Navy planners had discussed the possibility of swapping the two carriers, even before the latest concerns emerged.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Like any good far future dystopia, SpaceCorp positions massive corporations as the true governing entities of the future, swapping in private investors for diplomats and corporate boards for politicians.
    Alan Bradley, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • While deep in the throes of his intestinal Hell, Tony has a series of fever dreams that start out as subtle warnings and end up practically spelling it out for him.
    Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • But he is visited by Kanbei (Masaki Suda), an envoy from a different clan, who tells him that more and more factions are siding with Oda, spelling certain doom for Murashige.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • On May 22, a grand jury in New Haven returned a second superseding indictment charging Louis, Davis and Williams with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Rozier was first arrested and charged in October, but prosecutors filed a superseding indictment in May, adding two new charges.
    Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • The timeline keeps changing while this community is left waiting.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Newman said the landscaping industry has been affected by changing roles, fewer employees and cost.
    Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Messi returned to his native Argentina over the weekend, missing Miami's 2-1 loss to Monterrey on Saturday, but was dressed and on the bench before subbing in for Daniel Pinter at the start of the second half.
    CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But when the Red Sox came out on defense in the bottom of the third Nick Sogard took Contreras’ place at first base, with Anthony Seigler subbing in at second base.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 2 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Substituting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substituting. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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