substitute 1 of 3

noun

ˈsəb-stə-ˌtüt How to pronounce substitute (audio)
Definition of substitutenext
as in replacement
a person or thing that takes the place of another you'll be getting a substitute until your regular teacher is feeling better if you like, you can use nuts as a substitute for coconut in that recipe

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substitute

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in synthetic
being such in appearance only and made with or manufactured from usually cheaper materials substitute wools that supposedly have the look and feel of cashmere

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alternative
taking the place of one that came before had to find substitute transportation during the bus strike

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

substitute

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to exchange
to give up (something) and take something else in return can I substitute coleslaw for potato salad if I order the chicken plate?

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2
as in to spell
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only substituting for the talk show host while she is on vacation

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3
as in to replace
to take the place of "John Doe," "Jane Doe," and "Baby Doe" substituted the real names of the parties involved to preserve their privacy

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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 substitute
Noun
Clear governance, validation and clinical oversight can help your organization use these tools more responsibly and avoid treating AI recommendations as a substitute for expertise. — Sujay Jadhav, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 While ChatGPT isn’t a substitute for professional mental health care, our safeguards are designed to identify distress, safely handle harmful requests, and guide users to real-world help. — Laura Reiley, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Fellow forward Thomas-Asante was used sparingly, making two substitute appearances in Ghana’s four games. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026 It would then be brought to the Senate and House floors for 100 hours of consideration, during which time lawmakers may propose substitute amendments. — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 14 July 2026
Verb
Even a few tweaks on the experiment to substitute the heavy water for a layer of graphite would have failed, given the purity of the materials available. — Mike McRae 06, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026 Orchestration is meant to extend leadership judgment, not substitute for it. — Arnab Mishra, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for substitute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substitute
  1. replacement
  2. synthetic
  3. alternative
  4. exchange
  5. spell
  6. replace
  7. faux
  8. new
Noun
  • That includes construction, improvement, maintenance, repair and replacement of streets and sidewalks, as well as drainage, sewers and other related infrastructure.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The infrastructure work to create the tunnel, including road and drainage replacement, life safety systems and adding the structural elements, does not allow for separate lane closures, according to project information.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of replacement
Adjective
  • Some dental floss manufacturers have been quietly moving away from the synthetic material PTFE, which helped their product slip smoothly between teeth.
    — Margaret Hetherman The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The result is a synthetic rhythm section—a voice mimicking a synthesizer that mimics a bass guitar—that precedes a very human chorus from Please, who does not sing so much as plead, several octaves higher.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of synthetic
Adjective
  • Customers who had been due to fly on Saturday were provided with accommodation and rebooked on alternative flights, according to the airline.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
  • According to the store, Clarkson left before seeing the alternative item.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of alternative
Verb
  • Instead of exchanging the entire print head, the K3 swaps a smaller assembly containing the nozzle, hotend and filament path.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Jo also inherited hundreds of letters that Vincent wrote and received, most exchanged with Theo.
    — Joan Martelli, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of exchange
Verb
  • In battleground states, anti-trans messages could cost votes and spell defeat for Democrats who rely on them.
    — Dorian Rhea Debussy, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
  • And with audiences giving Digger a C on the exit poll Cinemascore (for which anything below a B usually spells disaster), word of mouth will only further curtail its prospects of striking box-office gold.
    — Chris Lee, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of spell
Verb
  • Two lasers replace hardware Optical frequency combs work much like rulers for light.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • For Chisell, technology should never replace human responsibility.
    — Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of replace
Adjective
  • Experts called plumassiers, or feather specialists, would often collaborate with fashion houses and incorporate feathers, both faux and real, into designs for couture and ready-to-wear collections.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The ground floor features an 18-seat bar with a rum wall backsplash, carved Moai heads and high-tops that spill out to a lush faux-grass courtyard framed in palm trees and tiki-totem pillars.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of faux
Adjective
  • An emergency program was followed by an initial slowdown in new cases after almost 20 million children received a vaccination in April and May.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In the middle of one of those summer heatwaves this year, Kember was in the promotional cycle for a record with his new partner of 15 years, Panda Bear.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of new

Browse Nearby Words

substitutable
substitute
substituted
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Cite this Entry

“Substitute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substitute. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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