Synonyms for substitute
- noun
- verb
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
2. Reserve
Other
replacement, surrogate, deputy, proxy, ersatz, resource, make-shift, supply, representative, agent, attorney, secondary
Verb
Definitions
- n. 1
A replacement or stand-in for something that achieves a similar result or purpose.
- n. 2
A substitute teacher.
- v. 1
To use in place of something else, with the same function.
I had no shallots so I substituted onion.
Related words
Forms
- Plural
- substitutes → stand-ins, fill-ins, reliefs, backups…
- Past participle
- substituted
e.g. substituted → replaced, exchanged, shifted, changed…
Example sentences
- reliever Take the pain reliever only when you need it.
- reserve Melt the butter in a saucepan at low heat; reserve.
- replacement Are you already thinking of a replacement for Tom?
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| substitute | falling | |
| reliever | rising | |
| reserve | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- sub1
- 4 letters
- swap1
- 5 letters
- agent2, shift1, proxy2
- 6 letters
- change1, supply2, switch1, relief2, deputy3, backup2, ersatz2
- 7 letters
- reserve2, replace2, commute2
- 8 letters
- exchange2, attorney3, resource2, reliever3, deputize3, deputise
- 9 letters
- represent3, secondary4, surrogate3, subrogate
- 11 letters
- replacement3, interchange3
- 14 letters
- representative5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (agent2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- remplaçant
- Deutsch
- Stellvertreter