substitutive

adjective

ˈsəb-stə-ˌtü-tiv How to pronounce substitutive (audio)
Definition of substitutivenext
as in alternative
taking the place of one that came before his recent religious fanaticism is only the latest substitutive addiction of a person with an addictive personality

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 substitutive At the top end, its role is more augmentative than substitutive, and its impact more incremental than disruptive or transformational. — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026 This kind of substitutive logic appears in early case histories of anorexia. — Anna Shechtman, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substitutive
  1. alternative
  2. new
  3. alternate
  4. substitute
  5. other
Adjective
  • The task force also recommends developing alternative response models that prioritize mental health professionals over police in appropriate situations, along with requiring less-lethal tools, training and clear use-of-force policies.
    — CBS Baltimore, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The Planning and Land Use Management Committee instructed the city Planning Department in October 2025 to explore alternative price points for appeals that would decrease the amount of money the city’s general fund would have to subsidize.
    — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of alternative
Adjective
  • Nichols ran tests comparing sounds laid down on 24-track analog tape with those captured by a new 32-track digital unit manufactured by 3M, and found the latter superior.
    — Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The Russian missiles that hit overnight across the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, damaged homes and commercial properties, triggering new power and water outages, national and city authorities said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of new
Adjective
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have unveiled their Hometown Remix uniforms, the newest set of alternate uniforms designed to celebrate the culture and fans of Pittsburgh.
    — Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Drivers should turn around and find an alternate route, and not underestimate the depth of floodwaters, according to the department.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of alternate
Adjective
  • The four lead senators released a substitute amendment on Saturday following feedback from lawmakers, environmental and labor groups and Tribal leaders.
    — Steve Mollman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Six nonverbal autistic students were missing for hours before arriving at a Brooklyn school more than four hours late after a substitute bus driver got lost, according to a city investigation.
    — Doug Williams, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of substitute
Adjective
  • The University of Washington chapter of Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return, or SUPER UW, spearheaded a May 2024 encampment at the Seattle campus with other groups, according to reports and SUPER UW’s statements.
    — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2026
  • They were photographed together both at a bar with other suppliers and then also out to dinner with some other executives.
    — Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of other

Browse Nearby Words

substitutions
substitutive
substrata
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Substitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutive. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of boilerplate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All