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
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
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
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
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
-
For a healthy individual with a reasonable life expectancy, that 8% annual return on patience is difficult to beat with alternative strategies.—
Jason Kirsch,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
America is investing in alternative rare earth supply chains and domestic manufacturing.—
Neil Shearing,
Time,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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And across all networks, just six new shows bow in the fall — with most waiting for post-football homes.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
Winston makes a cameo to execute another electric Ford Field trick play, and the Giants lose a close one with their offense starting to find a new gear.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
One director suggested the board consider an alternate course for future events.—
Dan Alexander,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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What’s an alternate title for your show?—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Brighton & Hove Albion’s first ticket to Wembley Stadium has been punched, substitute Nadim Noordam’s last-gasp stoppage-time winner sealing a breathless 3-2 comeback victory against Liverpool in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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Take away the competition, substitute bureaucrats for private ownership, and the mess starts.—
Star Parker,
Boston Herald,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
One out of every 16 minutes across six hours of NCAA football bowl games referenced gambling — far less than any other sport.—
Luke Connors,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
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And while track and field adopted the dual-advancement and dual-medal system, the policy does not easily translate to head-to-head contact sports or other athletic competitions, creating what critics see as a glaring inconsistency across the state.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutive. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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