material 1 of 2

noun

Definition of materialnext
1
as in potential
the basic elements from which something can be developed she's clearly movie star material

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in equipment
usually materials plural items needed for the performance of a task or activity I have all the materials to build the mobile

Synonyms & Similar Words

material

2 of 2

adjective

mə-ˈtir-ē-əl How to pronounce material (audio)
1
as in physical
relating to or composed of matter there's no material evidence, such as a dead body, that a murder has been committed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in important
having great meaning or lasting effect there's no material difference between the two designs for the skyscraper: one's as bad as the other

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in temporal
having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven people who worry more about material concerns than about spiritual ones

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in relevant
having to do with the matter at hand that information, while fascinating, is not material to our discussion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in bodily
of or relating to the human body material needs such as food and warmth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word material different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of material are applicable, apposite, apropos, germane, pertinent, and relevant. While all these words mean "relating to or bearing upon the matter in hand," material implies so close a relationship that it cannot be dispensed with without serious alteration of the case.

facts material to the investigation

When is it sensible to use applicable instead of material?

The synonyms applicable and material are sometimes interchangeable, but applicable suggests the fitness of bringing a general rule or principle to bear upon a particular case.

the rule is not applicable in this case

When might apposite be a better fit than material?

In some situations, the words apposite and material are roughly equivalent. However, apposite suggests a felicitous relevance.

add an apposite quotation to the definition

When is apropos a more appropriate choice than material?

Although the words apropos and material have much in common, apropos suggests being both relevant and opportune.

the quip was apropos

When could germane be used to replace material?

While in some cases nearly identical to material, germane may additionally imply a fitness for or appropriateness to the situation or occasion.

a point not germane to the discussion

When can pertinent be used instead of material?

The words pertinent and material can be used in similar contexts, but pertinent stresses a clear and decisive relevance.

a pertinent observation

Where would relevant be a reasonable alternative to material?

The meanings of relevant and material largely overlap; however, relevant implies a traceable, significant, logical connection.

found material relevant to her case

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 material
Noun
Not Bosch spin-offs, specifically, but shows in this range that combine a good but not overpaid cast, relatively cheap location filming, high viewership scores and in this case, a lot of source material. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 There are many options for staking materials and techniques; some are better suited to certain flowering plants than others. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
Adjective
All other material terms and conditions of the existing employment agreement will remain the same, Imax said in the SEC filing. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2025 Moten grounds Black feminist theory in the material realities of the postwar Midwest, focusing on Black women in Milwaukee who navigated both gendered labor exploitation and racial exclusion while building coalitional grassroots economic resistance. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for material
Recent Examples of Synonyms for material
  1. potential
  2. equipment
  3. physical
  4. important
  5. temporal
  6. relevant
  7. bodily
  8. substance
Noun
  • But amid the poverty and limited means, Espinoza saw something more powerful: An area rich in human potential.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 26 July 2025
  • Sometimes the products that cause injury, or have the potential to do so, may seem fairly innocent.
    — Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
Definition of potential
Noun
  • Your guide provides instructions and all necessary equipment, making this tour suitable for both novices and experienced paddlers.
    — Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 26 July 2025
  • Doing so requires investing in the equipment and service, and that requires time and money.
    — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 25 July 2025
Definition of equipment
Adjective
  • These appointments may include physical exams, imaging tests, blood tests, and treatments.
    — Carrie Madormo, Health, 2 Aug. 2025
  • But he’s been airing these issues in public all year, to the point where rumors ran rampant about his mental and physical stability.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2025
Definition of physical
Adjective
  • Yes, the money is important, but the grief from your father’s death and the confusion around the inheritance have created wounds that money wouldn’t fix.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025
  • Here are some important factors to consider: Availability: Not all providers cover every part of Austin.
    — Kara McGinley, USA Today, 30 July 2025
Definition of important
Adjective
  • By fusing spiritual and temporal power, the period’s absurd-seeming battles over mystical doctrine—was the blood truly present in the chalice, or merely indicated in it?—were inseparable from struggles for worldly authority.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
  • The actors don’t visibly age, thereby reminding the audience of time’s passage; the characters themselves often exist in a temporal bubble, where Bart Simpson is forever in fourth grade and Bikini Bottom remains on the ocean floor.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 25 July 2025
Definition of temporal
Adjective
  • Staff take a holistic approach, reevaluating a player’s strength, range of motion, past injuries and other relevant factors.
    — Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Grant’s indictment—and his celebration—predates DOGE, whose arrival only makes both more relevant: a counter to the slander of public servants routinely dispensed by Elon Musk, a man who accrues more money in an hour than the average USPS employee will make in a lifetime.
    — Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2025
Definition of relevant
Adjective
  • Slaughter is facing 14 charges, including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a crash causing serious bodily injury and driving while licenses revoked, according to court documents.
    — Luke Chinman, People.com, 31 July 2025
  • However, interest and punitive damages are always taxable, even in wrongful death or serious bodily injury cases.
    — Robert W. Wood, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Definition of bodily
Noun
  • The compound 7-OH is a naturally occurring substance in the kratom plant (Mitragyna speciosa), according to the FDA, but only a minor component comprising less than 2% of the alkaloid content in natural kratom leaves.
    — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 31 July 2025
  • Allergies are an immune system's response to a substance.
    — News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
Definition of substance

Phrases Containing material

Browse Nearby Words

materfamiliases
material
materialism
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Cite this Entry

“Material.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/material. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on material

Nglish: Translation of material for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about material

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