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

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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

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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

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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

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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 substance The state's attorney's office said the substances found during the search field tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 The Eighth Wonder is both things [cinema and journey], because the cinema is a journey, and the journey is the substance of cinema. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 While studies over the years have found varied results, some people still swear by it as a safe, natural substance that won’t do you any harm. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 Jones said two people were provided housing through the Heartland Center for Behavioral Change, a behavioral health and substance use treatment center. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 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
  • Both had pro potential, but because of injury didn't end up in NFL camp.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The telescope's primary mission is expected to last five years, with a potential for a five-year extension.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of potential
Noun
  • The essence has a high concentration of PDRN, which promotes cellular repair and collagen production, plus niacinamide and copper peptides to leave your skin firmer and smoother.
    — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The concept art is meant to capture the essence of the project and is not intended to depict final details and design of the bridge.
    — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • Institutional investors still seem to see growth opportunities, even if some sovereign wealth funds show signs of potential pullbacks.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Japan’s royal succession depends on a archaic and highly contested law, despite a wealth of women who would be eligible to rule under different circumstances.
    — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of wealth
Noun
  • Rimac said customizations and one-offs reflect a growing desire among today’s wealthy to have unique objects that reflect their identity.
    — Robert Frank, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Image features range from generation and upscaling to background replacement, object removal, face swapping, and sketch-to-image conversion.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of object
Noun
  • Harp and her brother were home-schooled in San Diego by their mother, who used educational materials written from a biblical worldview.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The 21369 build is — in a rather fitting way, given the source material — quite an anomaly.
    — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of material
Noun
  • All three projects will collectively contribute to better measurements of how cosmic structure is changing over time—crucial information for clarifying the nature of dark energy and dark matter in the universe’s evolution.
    — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
  • While the moves are not dramatic, the elevated nature of yields has added to the debt burden, putting interest paid as the largest federal expenditure outside Social Security and Medicare.
    — Kevin Breuninger,Jeff Cox, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of nature
Noun
  • Taiwanese households have a much larger financial cushion than their Korean counterparts, with net financial assets totaling five times GDP, compared to just one times GDP in Korea.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Credit bidding allows judgment creditors to acquire debtor assets at judicial sales by bidding a portion of their outstanding judgment, rather than cash.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of assets
Noun
  • The Kingsway Theatre has no association with any other cinema or entities.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The cosmos may be speckled with black hole stars, celestial entities that have the properties of both black holes and stars.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of entity

Phrases Containing substance

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Cite this Entry

“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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