unsubstantial
adjective
un·sub·stan·tial
ˌən-səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl 
: not substantial : lacking substance, firmness, or strength
unsubstantial shadows
an unsubstantial diet
Examples of unsubstantial in a Sentence
as thin and unsubstantial as the wind
an unsubstantial child who was unfit to play sports of any kind
Recent Examples on the Web
This can alter the amount and types of ACE-inhibiting peptides created during fermentation2—and possibly account for kombucha's unsubstantial effect on blood pressure.
—
Md Published, Verywell Health, 27 Dec. 2025
Then again … This really does sum up Reeves’s unsubstantial performance as Jonathan Harker, whose new client is definitely up to no good.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
Yet for all its craft, the film remains airy and unsubstantial, never quite rising to the full potential of its premise.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
The hit isn’t unsubstantial: In 2024, textile exports to the United States accounted for 10.7 percent of China’s total textile exports, valued at $14.8 billion, and 22.7 percent of China’s total apparel exports, or $36.1 billion’s worth.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsubstantial
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Md Published, Verywell Health, 27 Dec. 2025
Then again … This really does sum up Reeves’s unsubstantial performance as Jonathan Harker, whose new client is definitely up to no good.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
Yet for all its craft, the film remains airy and unsubstantial, never quite rising to the full potential of its premise.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
The hit isn’t unsubstantial: In 2024, textile exports to the United States accounted for 10.7 percent of China’s total textile exports, valued at $14.8 billion, and 22.7 percent of China’s total apparel exports, or $36.1 billion’s worth.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsubstantial
Cite this Entry
“Unsubstantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsubstantial. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unsubstantial
adjective
un·sub·stan·tial
ˌən(t)-səb-ˈstan-chəl
: lacking substance, firmness, or strength
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