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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The organisation aims to design bespoke digital badge qualifications in conjunction with a range of private companies that will offer the 99 per cent of youngsters released from British academies alternative employment pathways.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The statement shared instructions for an alternative entry and exit route through the strait.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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His government promulgated a new constitution after just nine days of debate in the National Assembly.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Years later, new forensic testing led to a breakthrough.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Our partners at Gallup have spent decades testing some of these provocative, alternate ways of seeing the world.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Rather than approving the funding, House Republicans moved forward with an alternate measure to fund the entirety of DHS on a temporary basis.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Not sure the substitute teaching stipends could match that.—
Jay Paris,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
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On April 28, 2025, Charles was a substitute bus driver transporting 5-year-old Lens from Up Academy in Dorchester to his Hyde Park home, along with his 11-year-old cousin and a school bus full of kids.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Each cocktail is purposefully crafted, bridging flavors as with a slow-sipper featuring a split whiskey base sees bitter orange, curry leaf, and a bath of hickory smoke paired with the kitchen’s tender rogan josh shank, snappy papadum, and other hits.—
Chris Malloy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
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That said, China's export momentum will be more insulated from higher energy costs and raw material shortage than other export-reliant peers, Zhang noted, due to the scale and efficiency of the country's manufacturing sector.—
Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutive. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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