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
-
Gibson chose one of two alternative maps proposed by voting rights groups that had sued over the map, both of which created a Democratic-leaning district centered on Salt Lake County.—
Joseph Ax,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
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When there’s no alternative path, the question isn’t whether to continue but how to continue well.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The interdisciplinary approach brought the duke’s life and death to a stunning clarity — indicating how analyses can shed new light on age-old mysteries, even murders.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
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While earning a master's degree in exercise and coaching science at University College Dublin, she was introduced to CrossFit and discovered a new kind of challenge with its emphasis on versatility and constant adaptation.—
NWA Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Customers can show their Kroger loyalty card or alternate ID and present their military ID or proof of service.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Nov. 2025
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The Cincinnati Police Department advises travelers to use alternate routes at this time.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Though some people do entirely substitute cannabis for alcohol, this doesn’t appear to be having widespread effects on drinking.—
Kate Bernot,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Oct. 2025
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Georgia was attending college part time and working as a substitute grade-school teacher.—
Bob Cary,
Outdoor Life,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The research team underlined that the future work will explore other co-intercalants and optimize electrolytes for even wider temperature ranges.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
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That’s a significant contrast to other parts of the Forbidden City, marked by wide open spaces intended to represent the grandeur of imperial power and territory.—
Fred He,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutive. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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