1
as in significant
having great meaning or lasting effect
substantial changes to the school dress code that made a lot of people unhappy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in large
of a size greater than average of its kind
the amount he inherited was quite substantial, so he quit his job and set out to see the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in physical
relating to or composed of matter
the Land of Oz turned out to be a world of dreams, even less substantial than a rainbow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in considerable
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention
there's been a substantial increase in attendance at girls' volleyball games ever since the start of their winning streak
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of substantial
Shipbuilding also receives a substantial boost.
—
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
Dragon Claws/Getty Images The price of gold has changed so remarkably and so consistently for so many months that investors and beginners to the precious metal space may have missed substantial movement elsewhere.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
This recipe takes the best of that approach by combining the two soups into one for something that’s creamy and substantial but still loaded with vegetables to lighten it up.
—Farideh Sadeghin, Saveur, 2 Apr. 2026
Although the species classified in this order are basically meat eaters, a substantial number of them, especially among bears and members of the raccoon family, also feed extensively on vegetation and are thus actually omnivorous.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for substantial
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
Dragon Claws/Getty Images The price of gold has changed so remarkably and so consistently for so many months that investors and beginners to the precious metal space may have missed substantial movement elsewhere.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
This recipe takes the best of that approach by combining the two soups into one for something that’s creamy and substantial but still loaded with vegetables to lighten it up.
—Farideh Sadeghin, Saveur, 2 Apr. 2026
Although the species classified in this order are basically meat eaters, a substantial number of them, especially among bears and members of the raccoon family, also feed extensively on vegetation and are thus actually omnivorous.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for substantial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantial
Adjective
-
Leon was seeking gender reassignment surgery, which come to play a significant role in the climax of the hostage crisis precipitated by his partner.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Leon is seeking gender confirmation surgery and his needs come to play a significant role in the climax of the hostage crisis precipitated by his partner.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The school year in West Ada will come to a close in a couple of months, but Idaho’s largest school district is gearing up for a big change.—
Noah Daly,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Mar. 2026
-
It was hung roughly a year after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, to express solidarity with the twelve hundred people who were murdered—in the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust—and with the two hundred and fifty-one people Hamas had abducted.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Over 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
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Endowed not only with a privileged birthright but—unlike the actual princes over in England, who had weak chins and went bald young—the physical stature to match?—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of these trades were so large, Khouw said, that whoever placed them would have needed tens of millions of dollars in margin reserves, indicating a considerable level of financial sophistication and wealth.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Torrey Pines High School and San Diego Surf alum’s local pedigree may also boost the fifth-year Wave, who through no fault of the club’s current leaders, lost considerable star power in recent years, contributing to an attendance decline.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Following the price gouging session, two major refineries — Valero in the San Francisco Bay Area and Wilmington Phillips 66 in the Los Angeles area — have shut down, taking hundreds of jobs and nearly one-fifth of the state's gasoline production with them.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
On Day 1, the astronauts made it safely into Earth's orbit and the mission reached the end of its first major propulsion phase, NASA said.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But Trump’s election proved that a sizable contingent of the population had no problem imposing their values on others—and even hoped that the government might do so for them.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In North Texas, there were more than a dozen rallies, each drawing a sizable crowd.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Work with your manager on a concrete plan.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, broader accountability for Israeli soldiers’ role in supporting settlers and concrete action against rampant Israeli settler violence remains lacking.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Another important note to make is that Lupaia is closed during the winter season for improvements to the rooms, garden, public area, and overall guest experience since the weather is too unpredictable to welcome guests during that time anyway.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
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Nonresidents have such an important role to play in the management of wildlife in Wyoming, and obviously nonresident [hunting and fishing] licenses cost a lot more than resident ones do.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Substantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantial. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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