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
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If shipping remains constrained, supplies would need to be rerouted through alternative corridors or transported overland at far higher cost, analysts said.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
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Researchers led by Yayuan Liu, an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, explored an alternative approach based on electrowinning.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Publicly available satellite imagery shows the school building was part of the military compound until about 2017, when a new wall was added to separate the two.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
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Rosenthal believes stories about kids feeling nervous or afraid to try new things connect with both children and adults.—
Lisa Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Drivers are urged to take alternate routes and allow extra time while traveling through the area.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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Unrivaled, a three-on-three alternate women’s basketball league played during the WNBA’s offseason, is now leading the way in sports tourism.—
Lale Arikoglu,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Rubel then made a substitute motion to hold the bill in committee to give lawmakers time to discuss it.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Mar. 2026
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Dropped on the wrong side of the street by the substitute bus driver, Lens was crossing in front of the bus towards his house when he was fatally struck.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Boise State would hang around for the final two-minute period, which stretched to about 30 minutes of actual time, as both teams repeatedly sent each other to the free-throw line and called timeouts.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Mar. 2026
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There also have been several deaths in other Gulf countries.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutive. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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