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 As for her own struggles with substance abuse, Sweetin has been candid about her efforts to get sober after years of battling meth and cocaine addiction, in addition to alcoholism. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026 Court documents show prosecutors accused Fontes of rape a victim incapable of giving consent because of the effect of alcohol, drugs, or other substances. — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026 But most have drawbacks, including damaging bones, taking a long time to process, having expensive operational costs, or the use of environmentally hazardous substances. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026 Tailor The Experience To Your Audience One strategy is understanding the audience and their preferred user interface—developers do not appreciate wasting tokens or time on frills rather than the substance of their ask. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 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
  • Organizers had urged attendees earlier in the day Sunday to monitor conditions closely as forecasts called for the potential of severe thunderstorms across DC.
    — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The act of focusing intently on an object—a holy name, a mantra, the Eucharist—has the potential to transform a person’s desires.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of potential
Noun
  • The solution is to realize the importance of being rooted in the divine essence of God that has been given to everyone.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 June 2026
  • In essence, Star Fox is the video game version of Alien or Terminator.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 27 June 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • Its themes of power, wealth, consumerism and American identity remain as relevant as ever.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Alphonse Provinziano, managing partner of Provinziano & Associates law firm in Beverly Hills, also pointed to the mismatch in wealth in assessing possible spousal support for Kelce.
    — Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 1 July 2026
Definition of wealth
Noun
  • What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
    — Doha Madani, NBC news, 1 July 2026
  • Air traffic control audio from that incident indicated the object appeared to strike the aircraft above the cockpit.
    — Bonny Chu , Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of object
Noun
  • Quince This matching set feels especially nice on warm nights, thanks to its naturally cooling bamboo viscose material.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • Made from fade-, pill-, and weather-resistant material, this quilt is built to last many seasons.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
Definition of material
Noun
  • The true luxury lies in its unmatched convenience at a semi-affordable price point, blending the effortless nature of private aviation with the accessibility of commercial travel.
    — Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • There’s still a championship-level tension in the air, but the relaxed nature of the sport creates a unique environment.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of nature
Noun
  • North Field on Tinian, which was once the busiest airport in the world, was shut down after the war but is undergoing renovation to become an alternate base to Guam as Washington tries to disperse its assets around the region.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • If Washington intends to withdraw forces, assets or capabilities, allies need a roadmap and a timeline.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Definition of assets
Noun
  • In January, Comcast spun off those networks, including CNBC, MS NOW, USA Network and Golf Channel, to create a new entity called Versant.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • According to the president’s latest financial disclosure, his entities DT Marks Defi and DT Marks SC realized nearly $263 million in net proceeds from the sale.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 1 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on substance

Nglish: Translation of substance for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
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
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All