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
  • Most of the time, people come with their pre-existing views and biases, repeat them out loud, close their minds to alternative perspectives, and go home even more sure of their ways.
    Ben Bland, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Another is by directing government funds to further diversify exports away from China to alternative markets.
    Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 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
  • Yes, Minteh and Sarr both operate on the right and buying one of them arguably would have provided a better balance to Iraola’s attacking department given that his other wide players prefer the left flank.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • That happened again when the five other conservatives – but not Roberts and the three liberals − said the administration could slash hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of health research funding.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Substitutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitutive. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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