1
as in potential
the basic elements from which something can be developed
she's clearly movie star material
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in equipment
usually materials plural
items needed for the performance of a task or activity
I have all the materials to build the mobile
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in physical
relating to or composed of matter
there's no material evidence, such as a dead body, that a murder has been committed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in important
having great meaning or lasting effect
there's no material difference between the two designs for the skyscraper: one's as bad as the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mundane
having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven
people who worry more about material concerns than about spiritual ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in relevant
having to do with the matter at hand
that information, while fascinating, is not material to our discussion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in bodily
of or relating to the human body
material needs such as food and warmth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of material
Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
But even with all of that source material, there were still many moments unaccounted for.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Dennis Lim, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Grand Vividus has always taken over 600 hours to make by hand, and is filled with horse hair, wool, and cotton—its latest iteration adds even more of these material layers.
—Helena Madden, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for material
Noun
The response confirmed there’s real appetite for brands willing to take creative risks, especially when those risks are grounded in craft, material innovation, artistry and purpose.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
But even with all of that source material, there were still many moments unaccounted for.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Adjective
Technology has replaced the medium’s material substrate—once photochemical, now primarily electronic—and repeatedly modified its syntax, its narrative codes, its standards of realism.
—Dennis Lim, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Grand Vividus has always taken over 600 hours to make by hand, and is filled with horse hair, wool, and cotton—its latest iteration adds even more of these material layers.
—Helena Madden, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for material
Recent Examples of Synonyms for material
Noun
-
Children are seen as neither a treasure nor the future flag bearers of this country’s immense potential and responsibility.—
Randi Weingarten,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
-
Along with the launch of its chatbot for clinicians last month, OpenAI also published a wish list that the company described as a blueprint for unlocking AI’s potential to change the broader health care system.—
Brittany Trang,
STAT,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Crews and passengers use vacuums, disinfectants and brushes to scrub shoes and equipment clear of bugs, feathers, seeds and microbe-carrying dirt.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
That dominance has been driven by Beijing’s policy banks providing strategic lines of credit, enabling Chinese firms to provide equipment, services, and financing at significantly lower prices than Western competitors.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Those consumers have been increasingly seeking out solutions to ease the physical process, according to Circana.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
-
In these kinds of experiments, participants are told to practice physical activities—finger tapping, coin tossing, dart throwing with a nondominant hand—within their dreams.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Purrazzo stressed how important giving back to military veterans was to her in an interview with Fox News Digital earlier this week, especially as a military wife.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
But while the headline figure of peak speed is a head-turner, the more important goal is high sustained speed.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bowman, for his part, said his reasoning for bringing the pole up for discussion was much more mundane than some were suggesting.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
But there was a time when the title character of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's film, Amélie, was expected to sport a far more mundane 'do.—
Adèle Bari,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Early gains build momentum, while long-term planning ensures that systems are scalable and relevant.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
The bones are the most relevant components.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Given who holds power in Washington, the key is to focus rhetoric less on the big vision of global sustainability than on the simple defense of personal bodily health, including especially the health of kids.—
Justin Zorn,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The prions are spread between animals through bodily fluids, including saliva, blood, urine and feces, and can occur through direct contact or indirectly through contamination of soil, food or water.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The proceeds will go toward the nonprofit, which seeks to support people living with addiction and move past the stigma that surrounds substance use abuse disorder.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
On 2016’s The Sun’s Tirade, Rashad detailed recent experiences of substance abuse and depression.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Material.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/material. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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