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

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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
Adjective
  • Customers who had been due to fly on Saturday were provided with accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights, according to the airline.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
  • According to the store, Clarkson left before seeing the alternative item.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • An emergency program was followed by an initial slowdown in new cases after almost 20 million children received a vaccination in April and May.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In the middle of one of those summer heatwaves this year, Kember was in the promotional cycle for a record with his new partner of 15 years, Panda Bear.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The alternate versions certainly add extra bite, and a few outtakes could have made it to the main tracklist.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • While drivers are being urged to use alternate routes, some lanes on the Interstate 280 extension will be closed for road work.
    — Tim Fang, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • With zero acting gigs on the horizon and weary of taking handouts from Tori, Trina returns to Hollywood Arts for a substitute teaching position.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Sounders regained a two-goal advantage in the 83rd minute when substitute Paul Arriola used another assist from Rusnák and one from 20-year-old rookie Sebastian Gomez — his third — to score for the second time this season.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Levine did, however, receive a letter signed by over a dozen former Israeli security, intelligence and other officials, including former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, former Mossad director Tamir Pardo and former Shin Bet director Ami Ayalon.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Ten other people, ages 5 to 68, were also hit and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, Police Capt.
    — Maggie Vespa, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Substitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutive. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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