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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of substance
Coffee and protein are two substances that can enhance your health in various ways.
—
Devineé Lingo, M.s., Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Harris certainly does not lack for substance, but the energy radiating from her campaign at in-person events often fails to be felt from those consuming that content in clips and soundbytes.
—Philip Eliott / Detroit, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
His biological mother was 16 when he was born and struggled with substance abuse.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 4 Nov. 2024
Again, this is a rumor, but one with a bit more substance if based only on Nintendo's own trajectory.
—Matt Kamen, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for substance 
Devineé Lingo, M.s., Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Harris certainly does not lack for substance, but the energy radiating from her campaign at in-person events often fails to be felt from those consuming that content in clips and soundbytes.
—Philip Eliott / Detroit, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
His biological mother was 16 when he was born and struggled with substance abuse.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 4 Nov. 2024
Again, this is a rumor, but one with a bit more substance if based only on Nintendo's own trajectory.
—Matt Kamen, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
Noun
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Make 2024 different from previous years and unlock all your hidden potentials.Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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Weather: Watch for periods of rain today, with the potential for some ponding on streets and highways.Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Paramount Nearly every TV show that Taylor Sheridan has ever produced has been, in essence, a crime drama.Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
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The tools take advantage of Generative adversarial networks, which, in essence, try to trick the AI algorithm with incorrect (i.e., adversarial) data.PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Noninterest income increased by $150 thousand, primarily due to higher wealth management fees and fees for other customer services.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
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Arte’s Rematch won big at Series Mania earlier this year and streamers have taken rights in a wealth of different territories.Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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This month, the company identified the object to be a natural rock formation instead.Alexandra Banner, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
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Designer Thom Browne has long been admired as an American classic, but has more recently become a red carpet fixture and the object of obsession of Hollywood’s A-list.Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The state board revised the materials after the versions proposed in May faced heavy criticism, according to the Texas Education Agency.Amanda Musa, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
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Nanofibers are any fibrous material that are less than 100 nanometers (nm).Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Eventually, Collette’s rigid, defensive stare gives way to belief while Hoult’s cherubic face hides a weak, secretive nature.Armond White, National Review, 22 Nov. 2024
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Sagittarius kiddos are excited explorers by nature.Holly Garcia, Parents, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The company identified a material weakness in its internal controls over financial reporting related to the valuation methodology for intangible assets.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
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As of September 30, 2024, Hallmark Venture Group had total assets of $103,332 and total liabilities of $833,304.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The Department he's nominated to run is one of the biggest, most complex entities in the U.S. - an institution that, as our next guest notes, has its own judicial code, its own legal system, its health care system.Connor Donevan, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024
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No government entity has weighed in on the Guidepost investigation or affirmed any of its findings; Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel offered three times to review the school shooting, the Detroit Free Press reported, but the Oxford School Board rejected her offers.Christina Coulter, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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