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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  • Goldman's base case remains for Persian Gulf exports to gradually recover as producers adapt to disruptions, including through alternative shipping routes and eventually additional pipeline capacity.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • At best, the boat strikes are forcing traffickers to search for alternative routes and modes of delivery.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • But if Jackson gets off to a slow start under a new coaching staff, including first-time play-caller Declan Doyle, there’s room to fall.
    Jeff Howe, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • There's a new, yet familiar, voice in Bo Nix's ear these days.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Years ago, after the purchase of the Sacramento Kings—where Raj and Alex sit on the board, and where Raj is an alternate governor and vice chair—the family saw opportunities for women’s sports cross their desk.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Others are dressing up as John Politics in convincing cosplay, or cracking jokes about Powell as an alternate reality diplomat.
    Owen Carry, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Applicants will have to register with the secretary of state, document a threat within the past year and receive a substitute address that government agencies must generally accept.
    Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The bill would provide participants in the program with a substitute address, shielding their personal information and rerouting their mail through the Secretary of State.
    Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Blue laws in Arkansas included bans on card games, hunting, horse racing and other activities on Sundays.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The back end should be able to move the puck better and avoid long stretches in their own end, and assuming relative health, other players like Braden Schneider will no longer have to play too high in the lineup.
    Peter Baugh, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Substitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutive. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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