Synonyms of substantive

substantive 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsəb-stən-tiv 

as in substantial

sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention

they've made substantive changes in the nightly newscast

Synonyms & Similar Words

• substantial
• significant
• considerable
• sizable
• major
• good
• tremendous
• huge
• respectable
• healthy
• great
• handsome
• big
• goodly
• tidy
• massive
• largish
• biggish
• voluminous
• enormous
• hefty
• bulky
• colossal
• gigantic
• immense
• monumental
• oversize
• outsize
• astronomical
• prodigious
• mammoth
• monstrous
• herculean
• whopping
• titanic
• jumbo
• hulking
• elephantine
• bumper
• king-size

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insignificant
• nominal
• negligible
• inconsequential
• insubstantial
• trivial
• inconsiderable
• unimportant
• petty
• marginal
• trifling
• puny
• meager
• slight
• paltry
• minute
• small
• little
• tiny
• piddling
• picayune
• measly
• diminutive
• undersized
• picayunish
• miniature
• smallish
• pocket
• bitty
• pocket-size
• pygmy
• pint-size

substantive

2 of 2

noun

as in nominal

Related Words

• nominal
• noun
• collective noun
• common noun
• proper noun
• count noun
• mass noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of substantive

Adjective

Intended for short, procedural orders, the justices have instead been using the docket to make substantive legal decisions with perfunctory orders that offer thin or zero legal reasoning, after minimal briefing and, often, no oral argument. — Henry Gass, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Oct. 2026

Stillness, which had seemed ontologically secondary to the art form, now gained distinction as a substantive component. — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

With his substantive, agreeably granular bass, David Grogan gave prophetic warnings real authority. — Dallas News, 23 Dec. 2022

California’s climate agenda mixes the symbolic with the substantive. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2022

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