substantively

[ suhb-stuhn-tiv-lee ]

adverb

1. 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.

2. 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 Words From

• non·sub·stan·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of substantively¹

substantive + -ly

Example Sentences

Therefore, for Dems, it’s imperative they win both Georgia Senate seats to have a fighting chance of passing substantive legislation in a timely manner, if at all.

From Ozy

Critics are advised not to be so snobby or to take solace in the assumption that these books will eventually lead readers to more substantive works.

From Washington Post

Algorithms that determine which users get to see what content are mysterious to just about everyone, which is why a few of the more substantive questions during yesterday’s hearing were in regards to transparency.

From Popular-Science

His made a more substantive amendment to the House bill banning the acquisition of certain surplus military equipment.

From Washington Post

His goal will be to keep the hearing focused on substantive policy issues as lawmakers weigh changes to Section 230, or a complete revocation.

From Washington Post

Instead of substantively responding to these failed expectations, the ACE takes a spin-cycle approach.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, busing was a failure—conceptually and substantively—because of faulty liberal assumptions.

From The Daily Beast

Substantively, as opposed to stylistically, there was no New Left.

From The Daily Beast

Substantively, I think he pretty well signaled that the Justice Department isn't going to take up this case.

From The Daily Beast

"All the denials can be literally technically true without anything in the story being substantively false," he told me.

From The Daily Beast

He would have been ugly, he substantively granted, had he not been happy; he would have been dangerous had he not been warranted.

From Project Gutenberg

I have myself used this word substantively, to express the rippled edge of a wing-feather.

From Project Gutenberg

Cardinal numerals, used substantively, are also followed by the genitive: zweinzec starker man, twenty strong men.

From Project Gutenberg

Stillness; the adjective used substantively, for the sake of the rhyme.

From Project Gutenberg

Fleury differs a little from this legend, but has substantively preserved it.

From Project Gutenberg