Definition of substancenext
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
3
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 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 substance The results suggest a broad surge in support for loosening restrictions on research into substances such as psilocybin and MDMA to probe their potential for medical use. Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 13 May 2026 In a request to the judge for a sentence reduction, Keomisy offered to voluntarily participate in a substance abuse and mental health program. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2026 As with all screenlife movies, though, LifeHack eventually wears thin with its preponderance of very specific style over substance. Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026 McElroy was arrested after she was accused of endangering her unborn child through substance use, a felony. Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
Noun
  • In fact, white clover flourishes best in full sun, says Watkins who sees the potential for clover to flourish in USDA Zones 6-9 and beyond year-round.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
  • The results suggest a broad surge in support for loosening restrictions on research into substances such as psilocybin and MDMA to probe their potential for medical use.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • One which changes profoundly with the tilts and turn of the planet, yet its essence holds true.
    Nick Scott, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
  • If this is on your mind, move forward, because time is of the essence.
    Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • For years, the narrative around artificial intelligence in wealth management has framed it as a threat, with algorithms eventually replacing advisors, automating relationships and commoditizing trust.
    Dan Cavanaugh, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
  • Business records show that Lytvynchuk, who boasted about his wealth when confronted about his actions by angry passersby, owns a logistics and trucking company based in Kent, Washington.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • Three-dimensional ads that look like physical objects in the road?
    Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 14 May 2026
  • Many of the looks on display come from a collection of around 1,500 fashion objects and historical costumes from two Swiss collectors, Martin Kamer and Wolfgang Ruf, that the KGM acquired in 2003; Kamer was a costume designer and Ruf ran a gallery trading historical textiles.
    Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • Israel prohibits many construction materials from entering Gaza, so the structure was created by welding sheets of metal together and painting them white.
    Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
  • The search-warrant affidavit that allowed the FBI to seize election materials in Georgia in January—an extraordinary intervention by federal law enforcement—cited an analysis by Parikh.
    Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • Exposure to nature is so good for your mental health.
    Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
  • What’s more, the low-fat nature of the cut is typically doubled down on via the cooking technique.
    Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • One of the assets in the Manson trade — 2023 second-round pick Carey Terrance — brought back Kreider, a winger with 348 career goals.
    Eric Stephens, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • The company was formed in 2021 through the combination of Univision Holdings and the media, content, and production assets of Grupo Televisa, bringing together one of the largest libraries of Spanish-language programming with extensive distribution throughout North and Latin America.
    byNick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • The 2016 act authorizes the president to impose economic sanctions and visa bans on foreign individuals or entities worldwide responsible for gross human rights abuses or significant corruption.
    Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
  • Gender distress plays a more pronounced role in the film later on, as two crucial scenes frame it as the insurmountable obstacle that prevents the entity’s targets from returning to a version of their previous lives.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 18 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on substance

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster