1
as in unsubstantial
being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance
an insubstantial carton that could not possibly stand up during long-distance shipping
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spiritual
not composed of matter
energy is insubstantial
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of insubstantial
And Dalla Porta can’t build a flesh-and-blood character out of a woman who seems as billowy and insubstantial as the movie that bears her name.
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David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2024
By emphasizing the details of her characters’ work, Waldman endows what might seem insubstantial in other hands with depth and shadow.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2024
Here are 10 squads seemingly relegated to the sidelines during this year’s silly season, their impactful outlooks ranked from insubstantial to those seemingly staring at self-destructive maneuvers going into the 2024 campaign (note: salary cap projections courtesy Over The Cap):
10.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Given their size, the controllers are surprisingly light, to the point of feeling a bit insubstantial in your hand.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 16 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for insubstantial 
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2024
By emphasizing the details of her characters’ work, Waldman endows what might seem insubstantial in other hands with depth and shadow.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2024
Here are 10 squads seemingly relegated to the sidelines during this year’s silly season, their impactful outlooks ranked from insubstantial to those seemingly staring at self-destructive maneuvers going into the 2024 campaign (note: salary cap projections courtesy Over The Cap):
10.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Given their size, the controllers are surprisingly light, to the point of feeling a bit insubstantial in your hand.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 16 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for insubstantial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insubstantial
Adjective
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Salads Salads don’t have to feel flimsy or unsubstantial.Katie Workman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2023
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From a personal finance perspective, people with extra cash should feel free to put an unsubstantial portion of their wealth into high-risk, high-volatility assets like crypto or meme stocks or even Super Bowl bets (thanks for the two-touchdown performance, Cooper Kupp).Scott Nover, Quartz, 14 Feb. 2022
Adjective
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What happened Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, resigned Tuesday amid intense pressure over his handling of a notorious child abuser.Rafi Schwartz, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024
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Perhaps that’s why Sedona attracts such a strong enclave of New Age spiritual devotees searching for metaphysical energy in the vortexes allegedly sprinkled throughout its buttes and spires.Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Inside, instead of a traditional flimsy insole, there’s a removable thick layer of PEBA foam resting directly on the carbon fiber plate.Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
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Every room is furnished with a king-size bed, all come with a refrigerator and instead of flimsy, folding luggage racks, each has a standard banquette for storage.Ryan Slattery, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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If reason teaches that God is incorporeal, this means that God has no body; God does not physically see, nor do people see God.Randy L. Friedman, The Conversation, 16 Feb. 2024
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The digital files are incorporeal.BostonGlobe.com, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2021
Adjective
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No matter how far-fetched the premise or gossamer-thin the story, the musical invites (compels) us to go along with its essential surrealism, to travel to that dream space where everyday life suddenly moves and sounds deliriously out of this world.Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 7 May 2020
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For her label Anissa Aida, designer Anissa Meddeb, who lives in the capital, makes gossamer silk blouses evoking the striped motif of handwoven fouta towels and voluminous coats inspired by the burnoose cloaks worn by Berbers.Sarah Khan, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2020
Adjective
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Perhaps that’s why Sedona attracts such a strong enclave of New Age spiritual devotees searching for metaphysical energy in the vortexes allegedly sprinkled throughout its buttes and spires.Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
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His fascination was with light, optics and the metaphysical, his layered geometric forms made with almost scientific precision.Nargess Banks, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Jojo examined her buck, astonished by all the frothy lung blood and the entrance and exit wounds.Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
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In fact, the surge in the Magnificent 7 stocks that has been the main driver of the S&P 500’s recent gains has left the index trading at a frothy trailing P/E of over 25.Julius Juenemann, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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But with great power, comes great responsibility and - in this case - comes greater fragility (a quantum state can be said to be brittle or fragile, mostly due to the speed at which machines at this level work) and greater potential for errors.Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Developing tourism in a fragile environment is a tricky balancing act.Chris Morris, Fortune Europe, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near insubstantial
Cite this Entry
“Insubstantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insubstantial. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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