Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun substance

7 senses of substance

Sense 1
substance -- (the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists; "DNA is the substance of our genes")
       => matter -- (that which has mass and occupies space; "physicists study both the nature of matter and the forces which govern it")
       => part, portion, component part, component, constituent -- (something determined in relation to something that includes it; "he wanted to feel a part of something bigger than himself"; "I read a portion of the manuscript"; "the smaller component is hard to reach"; "the animal constituent of plankton")

Sense 2
kernel, substance, core, center, centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty -- (the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the story")
       => content, cognitive content, mental object -- (the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned)

Sense 3
meaning, substance -- (the idea that is intended; "What is the meaning of this proverb?")
       => idea, thought -- (the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about; "it was not a good idea"; "the thought never entered my mind")

Sense 4
substance -- (material of a particular kind or constitution; "the immune response recognizes invading substances")
       => physical entity -- (an entity that has physical existence)

Sense 5
means, substance -- (considerable capital (wealth or income); "he is a man of means")
       => capital -- (wealth in the form of money or property owned by a person or business and human resources of economic value)

Sense 6
message, content, subject matter, substance -- (what a communication that is about something is about)
       => communication -- (something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups)

Sense 7
substance -- (a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties; "shigella is one of the most toxic substances known to man")
       => matter -- (that which has mass and occupies space; "physicists study both the nature of matter and the forces which govern it")