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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of substance
In this era, Betts served as the group’s de facto co-leader alongside Gregg, whose struggles with substance abuse endured into the ’90s.
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Spin Staff, SPIN, 8 Jan. 2025
Sickle cell disease arises from errors in a gene that makes hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen throughout the body and gives red blood cells their color.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024
The study found that there were declines across substances.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
The campaign was celebrated in some corners for the company’s ability to make a strong year-end push, and criticized by others as significantly more hype than substance.
—Hayden Field, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for substance 
Spin Staff, SPIN, 8 Jan. 2025
Sickle cell disease arises from errors in a gene that makes hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen throughout the body and gives red blood cells their color.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024
The study found that there were declines across substances.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
The campaign was celebrated in some corners for the company’s ability to make a strong year-end push, and criticized by others as significantly more hype than substance.
—Hayden Field, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for substance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substance
Noun
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But everyone’s skill and ability to transform a house with potential into a move-in-ready home is varied.Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2025
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Our choice is stark but simple: proceed down a path of confrontation that will almost certainly lead to mutual harm, or to pivot towards collaboration, which offers the potential for a prosperous and stable future for all.Will Knight, WIRED, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In addition, Anthropologie will amplify the Celandine launch with social media takeovers across their channels as well as robust Pinterest experiences designed to capture the essence of wanderlust.Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025
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In essence, The Rock is holding WrestleMania 41, its potential main event and all of its top matches in the palm of his hand.Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Some of the settlers are driven by fear, some by zealotry and others by the promises of limitless wealth, but in this moment, life is unquestionably solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
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Advertisement Lurie was able to spread his message broadly by drawing on personal wealth.Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Feynman came of age during the dawn of quantum mechanics, when scientists began to recognize that atoms, electrons, light, and other sub-nanoscale objects—building blocks for everything in the universe—obey fundamentally different rules than the objects of everyday life.Charina Chou, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
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These replicas enable machines to understand their surroundings, predict movement and track the motion of objects.Alexandre de Vigan, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This material was created by Thielen & Associates, Inc. for use by Forbes and does not represent the views and opinions of Avantax Wealth Management or its subsidiaries.Paula Thielen, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
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Attend enables filmmakers to upload details and promotional materials for their films to its platform and provides a searchable database for exhibitors looking for movies to program.Brent Lang, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Catholic natural law operates on the premise that humans are created in God’s image, and social order and domestic tranquility require that humans understand, accept and honor the qualities ordained by nature, especially the distinction between male and female.Peter H. Schwartz, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
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Neither are brutal players by nature, nor is Logan Stanley who’s been Winnipeg’s most consistent attempt at a third-pairing left defenceman.Murat Ates, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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In December, the EU imposed sanctions on certain Russian individuals and entities in response to recent sabotage.Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
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For Amelia and Rowan, personal history has shown them that to rely on any person or public entity to protect them would be folly.Becca Andrews, Them, 13 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near substance
Cite this Entry
“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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