substitute 1 of 3

noun

ˈsəb-stə-ˌtüt How to pronounce substitute (audio)
Definition of substitutenext
as in replacement
a person or thing that takes the place of another you'll be getting a substitute until your regular teacher is feeling better if you like, you can use nuts as a substitute for coconut in that recipe

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substitute

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in synthetic
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials substitute wools that supposedly have the look and feel of cashmere

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alternative
taking the place of one that came before had to find substitute transportation during the bus strike

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

substitute

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to exchange
to give up (something) and take something else in return can I substitute coleslaw for potato salad if I order the chicken plate?

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2
as in to spell
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only substituting for the talk show host while she is on vacation

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3
as in to replace
to take the place of "John Doe," "Jane Doe," and "Baby Doe" substituted the real names of the parties involved to preserve their privacy

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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 substitute
Noun
The survey measured what people prefer, not whether play works as a substitute for treatment. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 There’s no substitute for black vinegar’s complex, distinctive flavor. — Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Applicants will have to register with the secretary of state, document a threat within the past year and receive a substitute address that government agencies must generally accept. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 The bill would provide participants in the program with a substitute address, shielding their personal information and rerouting their mail through the Secretary of State. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
Previous customs entries may offer useful guidance, but historical treatment should not substitute for reviewing current requirements. — Shannon Hynds, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 Boyles responded that the groups were contesting the decisions based on the law, and not asking the panel to substitute its own views about wolves for those of the federal government. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for substitute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substitute
  1. replacement
  2. synthetic
  3. alternative
  4. exchange
  5. spell
  6. replace
  7. faux
  8. new
Noun
  • The university admissions replacement system still has to be designed, and legal changes may be needed — leaving crucial decisions unresolved even as the government seeks to persuade students to end their protests.
    — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Unsupported systems need replacement plans or documented interim controls.
    — Aliasgar Dohadwala, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of replacement
Adjective
  • An accident in the Chihuahua mountains On April 19, the Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office reported the dismantling of a synthetic drug lab in the municipality of Morelos, in the mountains of that state.
    — María Verza, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • But every year, millions end up in a landfill after a single use, and many are made from synthetic plastics that don't easily break down, contributing to environmental pollution.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • This is where alternative funding solutions like invoice factoring and invoice financing may be able to better serve a business’s needs.
    — Andrew Coon, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • China drew on strategic reserves, alternative pipeline imports, and fuel switching.
    — Dr. Sarah Kapnick, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of alternative
Verb
  • Also Friday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war for the first time since August.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Some even exchanged information across environments designed to keep them isolated.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of exchange
Verb
  • But a lack of chips might also spell the end of our military advantage.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • An anti-establishment mood among the electorate, as evidenced by upsets in primaries earlier this year, could spell unexpected trouble for some incumbents, UNC Charlotte political scientist Eric Heberlig noted.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of spell
Verb
  • Continue reading … DIRTY POLITICS — Antifa supporter charged with stealing GOP campaign signs in NY race to replace Stefanik.
    — , FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • It's called an exchange because borrowing entities, like a regional heating oil retailer, would be required to replace the same volume at a premium ahead of next year.
    — Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of replace
Adjective
  • Her nose was also dotted with the faux freckles that were scattered across the bridge.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Zebra tablecloths and napkins completed the safari theme, and the walls were decorated with faux magazine covers of Bradfield and his partner, auctioneer William Featherby.
    — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • While Usher was off basking in the afterglow of Confessions, maturing into a divorcé in the mid-2000s, the R&B world was already priming itself for a new-school successor.
    — Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Many voters thank him ​for pulling Serbia from economic obscurity and orchestrating a period of sustained modernisation including new highways, railways, schools and hospitals.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of new

Browse Nearby Words

substitutable
substitute
substituted
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Cite this Entry

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

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