substantively
Americanadverb
-
in a way that has to do with the meaning, subject matter, or essential nature of something.
These guidelines and the current accessibility standards for transportation vehicles are substantively the same.
I'm not qualified to substantively evaluate the scholar’s argument.
-
to a large degree; significantly.
This is a small difference, though, and not substantively meaningful.
While constrained by congressional statutes, federal agencies can substantively shape the policies within their jurisdiction.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of substantively
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.
And it was a smashing success, not only politically, but substantively as well.
From Salon ● May 14, 2026
They didn’t substantively improve U.S.-Cuban relations and did nothing to improve Cubans’ lives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
This primary is pitting at least two millennial candidates against each other—Crockett is 44 and Talarico 36—but they are both stylistically, substantively, and strategically very different.
From Slate ● Dec. 10, 2025
"The key issue here is that Meta and other social media companies aren't substantively addressing the harm we know teens are experiencing," Béjar told the BBC.
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2025
The Americans, however, use “Filipino” both substantively and adjectivally.
From The Philippine Islands by Foreman, John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
