unsubstantial

[ uhn-suhb-stan-shuhl ]

/ ˌʌn səbˈstæn ʃəl /

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Definition of unsubstantial

adjective

not substantial; having no foundation in fact; fanciful; insubstantial: an unsubstantial argument; unsubstantial hopes.

without material substance: an unsubstantial ghost.

lacking material substance; materially paltry: an unsubstantial dinner of bread and cheese.

lacking strength or solidity; flimsy: an unsubstantial wall of cardboard.

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Origin of unsubstantial

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at un-¹, substantial

OTHER WORDS FROM unsubstantial

un·sub·stan·ti·al·i·ty, nounun·sub·stan·tial·ly, adverb

Words nearby unsubstantial

unstrung, unstuck, unstudied, unsub, unsubscribe, unsubstantial, unsubstantiated, unsubtle, unsuccess, unsuccessful, unsuitable

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use unsubstantial in a sentence

They’re unsubstantial, and the first few times I skied them, before snow in southwestern Colorado had substantially accumulated, I was afraid, deep down, that skiers would think I was, too.
An Ode to Skinny Skis|Dan Schwartz|March 5, 2021|Outside Online
They’re unsubstantial, and the first few times I skied them, before snow out here in southwestern Colorado had substantially accumulated, I was afraid, deep down, that skiers would think I was, too.
An Ode to Skinny Skis|Dan Schwartz|March 5, 2021|Outside Online
The level of opposition to the Ryan budget among the bishops is not unsubstantial.
Paul Ryan’s Catholic Problem|Deal W. Hudson|August 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
There cannot be an unsubstantial city of demons to be seen at night, that vanishes and becomes only plain forest in the daytime?
The Devil-Tree of El Dorado|Frank Aubrey

One of the enemy side-slips, dives and streaks to the earth, leaving a cloud of smoke to mark his unsubstantial path.
Tam O' The Scoots|Edgar Wallace
Watson's and Brooke's stories proved as unsubstantial as the astonishing romance adopted by grave de Thou.
Sir Walter Ralegh|William Stebbing
I dare say it would have been all right had we been four months old, but being rather more mature, it seemed unsubstantial.
In the Ranks of the C.I.V.|Erskine Childers
A cabin would be built upon the land and some unsubstantial improvements made.
Our National Forests|Richard H. Douai Boerker

British Dictionary definitions for unsubstantial

unsubstantial

/ (ˌʌnsəbˈstænʃəl) /

adjective

lacking weight, strength, or firmness

(esp of an argument) of doubtful validity

of no material existence or substance; unreal

Derived forms of unsubstantial

unsubstantiality, noununsubstantially, adverb

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

unsubstantial

Definition of unsubstantial

Origin of unsubstantial

OTHER WORDS FROM unsubstantial

Words nearby unsubstantial

Words related to unsubstantial

How to use unsubstantial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for unsubstantial

Derived forms of unsubstantial