insubstantial
adjective
in·sub·stan·tial ˌin(t)-səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl 
: not substantial: such as
a
: lacking substance or material nature
b
: lacking firmness or solidity : flimsy
insubstantiality
ˌin(t)-səb-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē
noun 
Synonyms
- cobwebby
- filmy
- flimsy
- frothy
- gauzy
- gossamer
- gossamery
- sleazy
- unsubstantial
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Their contribution to the fund was insubstantial. as insubstantial as a ghost
Recent Examples on the Web And shoppers have to be persuaded to take a not-insubstantial risk, largely on the strength of online reviews alone. 
Katherine Dunn, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2022 In late 2021, Facebook chose to rebrand itself as Meta (a move dismissed by some as an effort to deflect from its not-insubstantial public relations crisis). Dr. Jason Wingard, Forbes, 15 July 2022 In the course of four days in August 2020, Kim raised the not-insubstantial sum needed to pay for Hong’s star, then took on the process of submitting an application. Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2022 Instead, parties propose the most minor, insubstantial tweaks to a basic settlement that already exists, has always existed, and has been failing for much of the country, leading to two successive votes against the status quo. Tom Mctague, The Atlantic, 19 June 2022 This frees them to be, playfully and sublimely, insubstantial. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 27 May 2022 In each of these cases, Parker has effectively magnified the invisible, paradoxically revealing the substance of the insubstantial. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 20 May 2022 In the years since, the original game’s update schedule slowed to a crawl, and additions grew insubstantial, leading many players to burn out or move on. Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2022 The Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak weighs in at a not-insubstantial 472 pounds dry, 527 pounds wet. Karl Brauer, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2022 See More
Katherine Dunn, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2022 In late 2021, Facebook chose to rebrand itself as Meta (a move dismissed by some as an effort to deflect from its not-insubstantial public relations crisis). Dr. Jason Wingard, Forbes, 15 July 2022 In the course of four days in August 2020, Kim raised the not-insubstantial sum needed to pay for Hong’s star, then took on the process of submitting an application. Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2022 Instead, parties propose the most minor, insubstantial tweaks to a basic settlement that already exists, has always existed, and has been failing for much of the country, leading to two successive votes against the status quo. Tom Mctague, The Atlantic, 19 June 2022 This frees them to be, playfully and sublimely, insubstantial. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 27 May 2022 In each of these cases, Parker has effectively magnified the invisible, paradoxically revealing the substance of the insubstantial. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 20 May 2022 In the years since, the original game’s update schedule slowed to a crawl, and additions grew insubstantial, leading many players to burn out or move on. Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2022 The Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak weighs in at a not-insubstantial 472 pounds dry, 527 pounds wet. Karl Brauer, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
probably from French insubstantiel, from Late Latin insubstantialis, from Latin in- + Late Latin substantialis substantial
First Known Use
1607, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
insubstantial
adjective
in·sub·stan·tial ˌin-səb-ˈstan-chəl
: not large or important
Her contribution was insubstantial.
insubstantiality
noun
1
as in flimsiness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- flimsiness
- wispiness
- exquisiteness
- fragility
- daintiness
- fineness
- diaphanousness
- brittleness
- friability
- delicacy
- crumbliness
- frangibility
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- solidity
- roughness
- coarseness
- firmness
- rudeness
- crudity
- strength
- crudeness
2
as in unsoundness
Synonyms & Similar Words
- unsoundness
- precariousness
- mutability
- unsteadiness
- insecurity
- changeability
- instability
- shakiness
- unstableness
- inconstancy
- laxness
- looseness
- slackness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stability
- steadiness
- security
- fixedness
- substantiality
- fastness
- soundness
- firmness