1
as in spiritual
not composed of matter
as thin and unsubstantial as the wind
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in insubstantial
being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance
unsubstantial wisps of lace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in weak
lacking bodily strength
an unsubstantial child who was unfit to play sports of any kind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unsubstantial
Then again … This really does sum up Reeves’s unsubstantial performance as Jonathan Harker, whose new client is definitely up to no good.
—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Yet for all its craft, the film remains airy and unsubstantial, never quite rising to the full potential of its premise.
—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
The algorithm fed the Giants pitcher a savory yet unsubstantial diet of short-form content.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2025
Still, Republicans plowed ahead with unsubstantial allegations of collusion between government officials and the company’s old regime.
—
Cat Zakrzewski and Cristiano Lima,
Anchorage Daily News,
9 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for unsubstantial
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Yet for all its craft, the film remains airy and unsubstantial, never quite rising to the full potential of its premise.
—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
The algorithm fed the Giants pitcher a savory yet unsubstantial diet of short-form content.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2025
Still, Republicans plowed ahead with unsubstantial allegations of collusion between government officials and the company’s old regime.
—
Cat Zakrzewski and Cristiano Lima,
Anchorage Daily News,
9 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for unsubstantial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsubstantial
Adjective
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India’s religious and spiritual economy was estimated at roughly $58 billion in 2025, and is projected to grow steadily over the next decade.
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Amid a host of synthetic textures, the batá grounds the record in its spiritual reference; only the twins’ perspective changes.
Adjective
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But too few of those ideas yield satisfying conclusions, resulting in a drama that becomes treacly and insubstantial, reaching for a profundity that remains elusive.
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The wall was as insubstantial as a set on a film studio’s back lot.
Adjective
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Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
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In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
Adjective
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Positioned as a large-scale genre event, the series updates the legendary SFX property with a contemporary political and social edge, with Shun Oguri leading the cast as a detective hunting a seemingly incorporeal killer.
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Christ Jesus’ example shows us how to turn away from material definitions of life by getting to know God as incorporeal divine Life.
Adjective
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Some had Trumpian golden eagles atop the roofs, and a flimsy triumphal arch stood at the center beside the Ferris wheel.
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Unlike modern sports trading cards, which are not only hefty but often bedazzled with autographs, jersey patches, and random holograms, the Panini stickers are flimsy and meant to be abused.
Adjective
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The gags are both belabored and feeble.
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Jolted by a feeble office market, a growing number of developers are considering ways to convert their office properties to other uses, such as housing projects.
Adjective
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In both the real and metaphysical locations of the show, the backgrounds are all painted by hand, something which was pointed out took up a lot of time due to the number of paintings in the show and due to the number of montages.
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In the 18th century Samuel Johnson coined the term metaphysical poets to criticize Donne, John Cleveland, and Abraham Cowley.
Adjective
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But a gossamer jacket tossed over a swimsuit on a breezy evening?
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The type of memory flashbacks that are shot at knee level, gauzy and out of focus, with a gossamer visual touch to conjure whispering, buried emotions of the past.
Cite this Entry
“Unsubstantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsubstantial. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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