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Synonyms

substantial

American  
[suhb-stan-shuhl] / səbˈstæn ʃəl /

adjective

  1. of ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc..

    a substantial sum of money.

  2. of a corporeal or material nature; tangible; real.

    Antonyms:
    ethereal, immaterial
  3. of solid character or quality; firm, stout, or strong.

    a substantial physique.

    Synonyms:
    sturdy, stable
  4. basic or essential; fundamental.

    two stories in substantial agreement.

  5. wealthy or influential.

    one of the substantial men of the town.

  6. of real worth, value, or effect.

    substantial reasons.

    Synonyms:
    weighty, important, consequential, significant
  7. relating to the substance, matter, or material of a thing.

  8. of or relating to the essence of a thing.

    the substantial parts of the ruling.

  9. existing as or being a substance; having independent existence.

    a substantial being.

  10. Philosophy. relating to or of the nature of substance or reality rather than an accident or attribute.


noun

  1. something substantial.

substantial British  
/ səbˌstænʃɪˈælɪtɪ, səbˈstænʃəl /

adjective

  1. of a considerable size or value

    substantial funds

  2. worthwhile; important

    a substantial reform

  3. having wealth or importance

  4. (of food or a meal) sufficient and nourishing

  5. solid or strong in construction, quality, or character

    a substantial door

  6. real; actual; true

    the evidence is substantial

  7. of or relating to the basic or fundamental substance or aspects of a thing

  8. philosophy of or relating to substance rather than to attributes, accidents, or modifications

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonsubstantial adjective
  • nonsubstantiality noun
  • nonsubstantialness noun
  • presubstantial adjective
  • substantiality noun
  • substantially adverb
  • substantialness noun
  • supersubstantial adjective

Etymology

Origin of substantial

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English substancial, from Late Latin substantiālis, equivalent to Latin substanti(a) substance + -ālis -al 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To get it going again it needs substantial investment, partly to rebuild the destroyed Kakhovka hydro-electric dam that was used to provide cooling water for the plant.

From BBC

The program will exclude inpatient-only services, emergency services and services that would pose a substantial risk to patients if significantly delayed, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said.

From MarketWatch

The extended copyright protection regime causes substantial cultural harm by keeping important works in obscurity and preventing their preservation and creative reuse.

From Los Angeles Times

Stewart hasn’t visited the site, but said a large head scarp, which marks the top of a landslide, is visible in photos of the area, “indicating substantial movement” that could have ruptured the pipeline.

From Los Angeles Times

Most large foreign companies get substantial revenue from outside of their home countries.

From MarketWatch