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
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 substantial
Admitted differences of that kind cannot satisfy the substantial-similarity standard.
—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
6 July 2026
For Adrian Black, the trial marked the beginning of a substantial improvement in his cognitive symptoms.
—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
6 July 2026
The 23-year-old man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University will be in court this week for the most substantial hearing so far in his murder case.
—
ABC News,
5 July 2026
Mayra Uribe, a sitting county commissioner from south of Orlando, had a substantial fundraising haul of her own with $808,000.
—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for substantial
Chris Willman,
Variety,
6 July 2026
For Adrian Black, the trial marked the beginning of a substantial improvement in his cognitive symptoms.
—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
6 July 2026
The 23-year-old man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University will be in court this week for the most substantial hearing so far in his murder case.
—
ABC News,
5 July 2026
Mayra Uribe, a sitting county commissioner from south of Orlando, had a substantial fundraising haul of her own with $808,000.
—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for substantial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantial
Adjective
-
That’s reigniting age-old feuds about production quotas that already led the United Arab Emirates, one of OPEC’s most significant members, to leave the group in April.
-
It is recommended that any batteries in devices that will be stored for significant periods should undergo a maintenance routine to maintain their health by charging them to half capacity every six months.
Adjective
-
The Hyundai Motor Company used one of the world’s largest sporting stages to showcase its robotics ambitions.
-
A number of Russian regions have banned the use of large canisters that hold around five gallons to prevent fuel hoarding.
Adjective
-
Balogun crashed into Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemović, landing his foot on top of Muharemović’s during the physical match.
-
Hawaiian Tropic’s zinc oxide formula, a physical UV blocker, brushes on with a matte, translucent finish and leaves no white cast on most skin tones.
Adjective
-
The moves come as nostalgia continues to drive a considerable chunk of the music industry’s profits.
-
Also expected to draw considerable interest are individual talks on how to co-produce with Italy, Canada, Spain, France, Chile, Mexico and Argentina, hosted by reps from each territory.
Adjective
-
Maybe Bill Plaschke would be aware of that, and give due credit, if his hometown major newspaper bothered to have a dedicated correspondent covering one of the city’s NBA teams.
-
Some of these storms could be severe and deliver damaging wind gusts, but any thunderstorm will contain lightning — a major danger for any outdoor activities, especially for anyone trying to escape the heat in or on the water.
Adjective
-
The hard-right Vox party at one stage even reached out to Latinos, now a sizable voting bloc, assuming that Catholic, Evangelical, and anti-Communist members of those communities would share right-wing values.
-
Other states with sizable contingents include West Virginia, Nebraska, Florida and Louisiana.
Adjective
-
And now, Swift’s fans are set to descend on the city, accompanied by hordes of media who until recently had little to no concrete information about the hush-hush affair.
-
Only construction waste will be accepted at the landfill such as, brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles.
Adjective
-
One interesting trend is that this tournament will feature some very good tight ends, a position that has become increasingly important in college football and the NFL but not so much in high school football in the era of spread offenses.
-
As technology becomes more sophisticated and the number of living survivors continues to decline, preserving authentic testimony becomes even more important.
Cite this Entry
“Substantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantial. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
