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

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

Start by substituting the x- and y-coordinates of the two points into the equation describing the line to get two new equations. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026

Say, the need for even clearer descriptions for how long to mix pie dough; or indicating where ingredient swaps are possible, like substituting collard greens for kale in braised greens. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Aug. 2026

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