1
as in potential
the basic elements from which something can be developed
many thought that the mayor's speech lacked substance because specific proposals for solving the city's problems were few
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in essence
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is
tireless caring and nurturing that was the very substance of maternal love
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in wealth
the total of one's money and property
measure the worth of a person not by his earthly substance but by his good deeds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in object
one that has a real and independent existence
the question of whether the soul is a substance entirely independent of the body
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of substance
Instead of noodles, use leftover rice to give a simple broth more substance, Littley says.
—
Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
People with substance use disorders already must often navigate strict, complex regulations to get the medications.
—Andrew Jones, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
Widely considered the Giants’ most dominant player, Taylor’s post-football career has included legal and substance abuse issues.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Allergies Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to foreign substances, such as pollen, pet dander, or dust.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for substance
Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
People with substance use disorders already must often navigate strict, complex regulations to get the medications.
—Andrew Jones, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
Widely considered the Giants’ most dominant player, Taylor’s post-football career has included legal and substance abuse issues.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Allergies Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to foreign substances, such as pollen, pet dander, or dust.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
Noun
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Max is one of the great composers of our time, and his work has a depth and emotional truth that has the potential to break our hearts.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
-
IntoUniversity helps disadvantaged young people achieve their full potential by building confidence and opening up pathways to future study and careers.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That is at the essence of why the Timberwolves are on the verge of knocking the Nuggets in the first round for the first time since 2022.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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In essence, the aircraft gives the Chinese navy the capability to fight through defending space from a carrier.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Whether despite this background or because of it, young Zac becomes preoccupied with the outward signs of extreme wealth, luxury cars especially, in a manner somewhat precocious but not entirely remarkable for a teenage boy.—
Mark O’Connell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Jackson is depicted as conniving and quick to use his wealth and fame to overwhelm the family.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Participants learned the locations of fifty objects; each was associated with a distinct noise.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
-
There could be as many as ~1017 icy, round objects in hydrostatic equilibrium in the Milky Way galaxy alone, most of which are likely not bound to a parent star at all.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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My prediction is that within 50 years, biology will be the engineering material of choice, and many of the people reading this article will become bioengineers.—
Eliza Strickland,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
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The material is debuting at the Footwear Innovation and Technology Summit in Vietnam, with commercial availability beginning this month.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Charles, who is well-known for his love of nature and the importance of sustainability, fed chickens in a coop together with the kids.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The actor and hairstylist was questioned extensively by Blumberg about her dynamic with Weinstein and is expected to face a grilling about its complicated nature when cross-examination begins.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Exxon and Venezuela had a major legal battle after Maduro’s predecessor, the late President Hugo Chavez, confiscated the company’s assets in the South American country.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Her legal, political and administrative skills have proven to be assets in her new job.—
East Bay Times editorial,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The case centers on Musk’s claim that OpenAI, Altman and Microsoft betrayed OpenAI's original mission as a nonprofit to benefit humanity by forming a for-profit entity in March 2019, 13 months after Musk left the OpenAI board.—
Deepa Seetharaman,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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Musk alleges he was duped when Altman transformed OpenAI from a nonprofit entity into a for-profit juggernaut.—
John Ruwitch,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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