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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The state's attorney's office said the substances found during the search field tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 The Eighth Wonder is both things [cinema and journey], because the cinema is a journey, and the journey is the substance of cinema. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 While studies over the years have found varied results, some people still swear by it as a safe, natural substance that won’t do you any harm. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 Jones said two people were provided housing through the Heartland Center for Behavioral Change, a behavioral health and substance use treatment center. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026 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
  • Lin said its relatively high gold grades add to its development potential.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Markets are currently weighing the potential for another intervention.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of potential
Noun
  • To experience a thicker, chewier noodle, order the tsukemen (dipping-style ramen) with a broth, as dense as gravy, fusing the essences of pork, chicken and fish.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Ahead, scroll on to find five cozy colors that the nail pros say perfectly capture the essence of fall.
    — Jennifer Hussein, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • Travelers are advised to stay aware of their surroundings, avoid displaying signs of wealth and use caution at night, particularly at beaches, bars, transportation centers and on public transit.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Asia remains a major unknown as consumer confidence remains uneven, compounded by the August announcement of a 20 percent tax on overseas and offshore wealth.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of wealth
Noun
  • Sight lines then become site lines, as many art objects, like the Bateman Mercury, gaze beyond the museum toward Los Angeles, at nearby buildings or the distant surrounding hills.
    — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The pulls of our star and planet equal the centripetal force needed for a smaller object to stay in place.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of object
Noun
  • Harp and her brother were home-schooled in San Diego by their mother, who used educational materials written from a biblical worldview.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The 21369 build is — in a rather fitting way, given the source material — quite an anomaly.
    — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of material
Noun
  • All three projects will collectively contribute to better measurements of how cosmic structure is changing over time—crucial information for clarifying the nature of dark energy and dark matter in the universe’s evolution.
    — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
  • While the moves are not dramatic, the elevated nature of yields has added to the debt burden, putting interest paid as the largest federal expenditure outside Social Security and Medicare.
    — Kevin Breuninger,Jeff Cox, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of nature
Noun
  • Taiwanese households have a much larger financial cushion than their Korean counterparts, with net financial assets totaling five times GDP, compared to just one times GDP in Korea.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Credit bidding allows judgment creditors to acquire debtor assets at judicial sales by bidding a portion of their outstanding judgment, rather than cash.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of assets
Noun
  • Since September 2025, 18 law enforcement entities, including county sheriffs offices and city police agencies, have requested money for about 440 license plate readers through the State Board of Immigration Enforcement’s grant program.
    — Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Years spent reviewing the financial controls of government entities as an external auditor, followed by service on boards and audit committees across several industries, taught a lesson that has outlasted every subsequent role.
    — Amer Al Ahbabi, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of entity

Phrases Containing substance

Browse Nearby Words

subspecieses
substance
substances
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Substance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substance. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All