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substantial

substantial

35 5.0
Real and based on facts that can be shown
  • adjective
  • /səbˈstænʃəl/
: sustancial
  • Still, the question of whether there was ever any substantial volume of liquid water on Mars remains controversial.
  • substantial evidence
  • substantial support
  • substantial evidence suggests

You know, that we're real, but not substantial.

Examples

  • After a lengthy discussion, we realized that there were substantial differences in our opinions.

  • I think it would be foolish to draw any conclusions without any substantial evidence.

  • I had something more substantial in mind.

  • What remains to be seen is how serious and substantial these links will prove to be.

    Academic text (1995)
  • To the contrary, there is substantial evidence to suggest that negative types of stress can prohibit learning.

    Academic text (2008)
  • There's debris all over the race track and substantial damage to the barriers.

  • - There's no question that we have substantial documentary evidence of the conspiracy here.

  • The literature on Native Americans and the environment in the twentieth century is substantial, although rather scattered.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The scientist presented substantial findings that could change our understanding of climate change.

  • He provided substantial reasons for why the project should be completed by the end of the year.

Synonyms

real
vssubstantial
∞ 1.0

Happening in real life, not imagined

means actual factual existence rather than being imagined
substantive
vssubstantial
  • Formal
88 6.3

Important and having real meaning or value

focuses on actual existence rather than importance
material
vssubstantial
2 3.5

Relating to physical things or possessions, not spiritual

refers to factual existence rather than only physical form

Antonyms

28 4.2

Not real, like something from a dream

Not solid or strong and not filling

1 5.5

Ideas or images that exist only in the mind and are not real

How Real

substantial
35 5.0
real
∞ 1.0
apparent
91 3.6
illusory
12 7.0
imaginary
217 3.2

Surface Forms

substantial positive
substantially positive

Morphology

substantial = substance (transparent) = substance + ial

Direct adjectival formation from 'substance' meaning 'having real substance' is a straightforward, literal derivation.

Etymology

Substantial comes from Latin parts sub- 'under' and stant- 'to stand', and led to substance meaning the 'real stuff' under the surface. So when evidence is 'substantial' it is real and not imaginary.