1
as in essences
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
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2
as in entities
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
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Recent Examples of substances
Police say Tong allegedly had multiple substances — including sodium hydroxide pellets, hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, and butane.
—
Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
The 31-year-old man was charged Wednesday with malicious destruction of property and possessing substances to operate a meth lab.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Police said the substances can be purchased legally online and in stores.
—Janat Batra, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
The list of substances Peters and his cohort ingest, inject, and smear on themselves is long and evergrowing, despite the very real risks that come along with them.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
Outside experts generally agreed with the government’s assessment, noting that small amounts of substances such as heavy metals are naturally occurring in the environment.
—Jonel Aleccia, Chicago Tribune, 29 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
The Department of Justice is easing federal restrictions on medical marijuana products licensed by states, reclassifying them as less dangerous substances in another big step toward reorienting federal policy around a drug that has been strictly controlled at the federal level for decades.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
All of the substances are just a cope trying to feel neurotypical while being in public, but obviously that isn’t a real solution.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
The 31-year-old man was charged Wednesday with malicious destruction of property and possessing substances to operate a meth lab.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Police said the substances can be purchased legally online and in stores.
—Janat Batra, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
The list of substances Peters and his cohort ingest, inject, and smear on themselves is long and evergrowing, despite the very real risks that come along with them.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
Outside experts generally agreed with the government’s assessment, noting that small amounts of substances such as heavy metals are naturally occurring in the environment.
—Jonel Aleccia, Chicago Tribune, 29 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
The Department of Justice is easing federal restrictions on medical marijuana products licensed by states, reclassifying them as less dangerous substances in another big step toward reorienting federal policy around a drug that has been strictly controlled at the federal level for decades.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
All of the substances are just a cope trying to feel neurotypical while being in public, but obviously that isn’t a real solution.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substances
Noun
-
Many imitation almond extracts or essences rely on synthetic benzaldehyde for flavor, which can create saccharine notes that overpower delicate desserts like custards, sponges, or pastry creams.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Store shelves are packed with serums, toners, essences and exfoliants — all promising transformative results.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Emails and other accounting records show that several of the entities that received that funding were owned or operated by individuals with political or professional ties to the state senator.—
Andrew Brown,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Gateway entities have sought to minimize the habitation module damage due to corrosion, with Northrop and Thales suggesting that the problem with the HALO module will be fixed by the end of the third quarter this year, or five months from now.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These observations suggest that small, mysterious moons with surprisingly different natures are the source of the particles that make up the two outermost rings, and that there are probably even more undiscovered moons to add to the 29 already known around Uranus.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Last month, a Los Angeles jury found social media giants Meta and Google failed to warn children about the addictive natures of their platforms.—
Drew Aunkst,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Keep a distance from tall, isolated trees or other elevated objects.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
-
According to Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force between two objects is the gravitational constant, G, multiplied by the product of the two masses divided by the square of the distance between them.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As the Moon moves through your 2nd House of Finances, clear terms help prevent confusion and keep things fair.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Rodriguez is happy to see things coming together as conference play gets into full swing.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Roseman could draft for the next few years and might not find a tight end with that athletic profile or an offensive tackle with that size, and those are realities that the general manager values when making the evaluation.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The real bureaucratic realities of running a government are different than those of campaigning, and everyone is entitled to some grace on that.—
Chris Tye,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substances. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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