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
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Recent Examples of substitutive
This kind of substitutive logic appears in early case histories of anorexia.
—
Anna Shechtman, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021
This simple, substitutive kind of automation, Mr. Acemoglu and Mr. Restrepo wrote, threatens not just individual workers, but the economy as a whole.
—New York Times, 6 Mar. 2021
Somewhere along the line, a foundational philosophy emerged: Identity is additive, not substitutive.
—Monte Reel, Bloomberg.com, 20 July 2017
Anna Shechtman, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021
This simple, substitutive kind of automation, Mr. Acemoglu and Mr. Restrepo wrote, threatens not just individual workers, but the economy as a whole.
—New York Times, 6 Mar. 2021
Somewhere along the line, a foundational philosophy emerged: Identity is additive, not substitutive.
—Monte Reel, Bloomberg.com, 20 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substitutive
Adjective
-
Following community debate over safety versus access to alternative mobility options, city leaders in La Mesa voted to ban e-bike use for riders under 12.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Spanish public television — which in past years broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest — plans to air alternative broadcasting on Saturday evening.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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The film has also landed a pair of high-profile new additions.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
There was a lot wrong with it, and new things were going wrong all the time, but many of the old things that had been going wrong were also getting fixed.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes and avoid the intersection.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
Add one third of the flour mixture to the stand mixer bowl, and beat on low speed until incorporated; alternate with the coffee, then finish with the remaining flour mixture.—
Lucie Franc de Ferriere,
Vogue,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Take away the competition, substitute bureaucrats for private ownership, and the mess starts.—
Star Parker,
Boston Herald,
2 May 2026
-
The district deployed more than 2,600 substitute teachers and about 940 substitute educational support professionals to fill in at 76 schools.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Like other pools in China, swimmers will need to don a swim cap to take a dip.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
In other words, the surface numbers and the eye test are matching the analytics in Chisholm’s case.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutive. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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