as in substantial
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention
they've made substantive changes in the nightly newscast
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nominal
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of substantive
Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Only seventeen members of Harmony, the party that represents the Russian minority and commands a substantive if declining amount of support, and two nonaffiliated members were opposed.
—Gordon F. Sander, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022
Spriha Srivastava, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
The New Yorker at 100 is a glossier, more star-studded, but generally less substantive documentary take than the magazine’s devoted readers probably crave.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Adjective
California’s climate agenda mixes the symbolic with the substantive.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2022
Only seventeen members of Harmony, the party that represents the Russian minority and commands a substantive if declining amount of support, and two nonaffiliated members were opposed.
—Gordon F. Sander, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022
Noun
With tariffs threatening supply chains and markets watching for signs of fragmentation, summits like these are closely watched for signals of new alignments, even if substantive outcomes are limited.
—Spriha Srivastava, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
The New Yorker at 100 is a glossier, more star-studded, but generally less substantive documentary take than the magazine’s devoted readers probably crave.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substantive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantive
Adjective
-
After new state data showed substantial academic gains, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education members defended a six-figure consulting contract Tuesday that raised questions earlier this year about family connections to the district.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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America hasn't seen substantial gains in pay equity or general support for women workers for the last several administrations, Robbins said.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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So, Hilleary will be in the odd position of facing a significant pay cut for getting a big promotion on Capitol Hill.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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According to Pliops, deploying Pliops XDP LightningAI in data centers offers significant cost savings.—
Thomas Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The prize money at the US Open has seen considerable growth over the years.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
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Nonetheless, London City Lionesses emerged with considerable credit from their first game at this level.—
Asif Burhan,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Owners and teams contractually assent to the league and commissioner having final, binding and conclusive authority, meaning courts would give the league sizable deference.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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This article discusses how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changed charitable contribution tax deductions and why 2025 might be the right year for wealthy alums to make a sizable charitable contribution.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substantive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantive. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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