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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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 That duality between instinct and calculation is what gives the film its substance. — Essence, 2 Apr. 2025 The Caffeinated Edge In a world increasingly focused on performance, clarity and longevity, caffeine stands out as one of the few substances capable of enhancing both short-term output and long-term brain health — when used judiciously. — Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition with genetic and environmental causes, whereas atopic dermatitis stems from an irritating substance that triggers a rash. — Susan Bard, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2025 Causes of Glassy Eyes Glassy eyes can happen for many reasons, including eye conditions, allergies, dehydration, medications, and other substances. — Cristina Mutchler, Health, 1 Apr. 2025 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
  • Healthcare providers consider several factors, including your medical history, cost and insurance coverage, and the potential for side effects or drug interactions.
    — Karen Berger, PharmD, Verywell Health, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The potential for fluoride toxicity does technically exist, for example, but would require consuming an amount of fluoridated water that would kill a human via water intoxication before the amount of fluoride could become harmful or deadly, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of potential
Noun
  • That, in essence, is Thibodeau’s basketball religion: Selfless basketball rooted in read-and-react execution.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
  • In essence, Hoyer’s fate is likely tied to the Tucker acquisition.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of essence
Noun
  • Peer learning and mentorship can provide insights into best practices for wealth accumulation.
    — Meredith Moore, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Poulter plays a radically un-self-aware scion of a billionaire family in A24’s absurdist comedy about wealth and privilege (which also stars Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd and Téa Leoni).
    — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of wealth
Noun
  • Videos show the museum in ruins, with piles of rubble and broken artifacts, confirming fears of looting raised in 2023, when satellite images showed trucks of objects leaving the building.
    — The Editors of ARTnews, ARTnews.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Maintain a safe distance from water, wet items, and metal objects.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of object
Noun
  • The best sheet masks are more than just selfie material—they’re serious skin-care products designed to hug your face, soothe your skin, and deliver high concentrations of potent ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, snail mucin, and retinol.
    — Annie Blackman, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025
  • However, Volkanovski is one of the best to ever compete in the UFC’s 145-pound weight class, so those two sticking points might be little more than reference material to cite when discussing the main event of UFC 314.
    — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of material
Noun
  • The precise nature of the impact has varied worldwide, depending on the role USAID played in the network of funding streams contributing to each country’s TB program.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
  • But the on-again, off-again nature of the process has resulted in a bewildered industry that has adopted a wait and see approach to investment decisions and supply chain alterations.
    — Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of nature
Noun
  • Such efforts can help strengthen the protection of digital assets and customer data while addressing the evolving demands of API security.
    — Michael Nicosia, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
  • Data protection of organizations’ digital assets and consumer information is one of the critical areas where such collaboration is essential, especially as consumers place more emphasis on their personal data security.
    — Michael Nicosia, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of assets
Noun
  • This result is also consistent with other findings from the study such as enrollees’ satisfaction with care being similar between for-profit and nonprofit entities.
    — Wayne Winegarden, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Editors’ Picks Some of those tools were used on Friday when China responded to Mr. Trump’s tariffs by putting 11 American companies on an unreliable entities list, and another 16 on an export control list.
    — David Pierson, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of entity

Phrases Containing substance

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subspecieses
substance
substances
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Cite this Entry

“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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