substance

noun

ˈsəb-stən(t)s How to pronounce substance (audio)
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
as in essence
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is tireless caring and nurturing that was the very substance of maternal love

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in wealth
the total of one's money and property measure the worth of a person not by his earthly substance but by his good deeds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, measuring about 5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which is higher than some types of iron and steel, according to the Cleveland Clinic. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 The list restricts hazardous substances from intentional use in production. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 Most of that wear lands on your tooth enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026 Examples of ultraprocessing include separating whole foods into substances, chemically formulating foods or using cosmetic additives such as food dyes. — Garrett M. Broad, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
  1. potential
  2. essence
  3. wealth
  4. object
  5. material
  6. nature
  7. assets
  8. entity
Noun
  • Its long-term commercial potential will depend on whether the technology performs as expected.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • What’s also clear is the military sees the potential of nuclear as the most reliable and steady power source for the future.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of potential
Noun
  • Finish Skin Prep With a Toner or Essence After cleansing, a toning step can remove any leftover impurities from the pores and balance the skin’s pH level, while essences—which have a slightly thicker texture—tend to be more hydrating.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Finding the essence of a scene does not always mean moving closer or showing more.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • The rich have been stung by a surprise 20% tax on their offshore wealth, much of it squirreled away in trusts in Hong Kong and Singapore, triggering a new rush for foreign passports.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • That tax—which taxes income, not wealth—charges an additional four per cent on incomes above a million dollars, and its revenues are earmarked for transportation and education.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of wealth
Noun
  • Throughout the building, a selection of artworks and unique objects is meant to reflect the house’s longstanding relationship with British creativity and the arts.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In one instance, a simple game of catch later evolved into variations that included multiple objects, timing rules, and even juggling.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of object
Noun
  • People often complain that cars are becoming heavier, but carbon fiber and other advanced materials give us ways to address that.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The result is a relatively light material able to prevent penetration while also absorbing secondary debris.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of material
Noun
  • For many, a walk in the woods or a visit to a scenic stop is a way to seek out not just solitude but also to connect with nature.
    — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • At Holmen, encounters with nature became part of the daily rhythm.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of nature
Noun
  • Bloomberg | Getty Images Analysts had expected a rally in Brazilian assets before Sunday's election results, with Bolsonaro holding a narrow lead earlier this month.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Why ships and airfields need new defenses China’s research focuses on defending valuable assets.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of assets
Noun
  • Nevertheless, analysts caution that evaluating the deal requires assessing whether the combined entity can generate distinct operational synergies and unlock long term expansion potential.
    — , CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Other creators have followed similar paths of using YouTube as a launching point to becoming a larger corporate entity.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of entity

Phrases Containing substance

Browse Nearby Words

subspecieses
substance
substances
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All