Another word for significant
The best other words for significant are material, statistically significant, marked and distinguished.
- Most formal
- material, statistically significant, eminent
- Strongest
- momentous, consequential, substantial
- Casual
- clear-cut, large, considerable-sized
- Instead of “very significant”
- important, major, serious
Significant /sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt/ (adjective): important enough to have noticeable effect, meaning, or influence. In simple words: important or noticeably large; used when something really matters. Below are 26 rated synonyms across 4 senses, plus 25 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
28 synonyms shown
Important · adjective
worthy of attention; having real consequence
Statistically meaningful · adjective
large enough to be unlikely due to chance
Noteworthy size · adjective
considerable in amount, degree, or extent
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- important — General, direct equivalent with broad use
- meaningful — Stresses real value or purpose
- notable — Highlights noticeability more than impact
The dashed ring marks “significant” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for significant in your sentence
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How to choose
Choose the synonym that matches both sense and register: a word like important fits almost anywhere, while material, consequential, or statistically significant sound more technical or formal. Avoid using significant as a vague filler when you mean simply large, notable, or important; the best substitute depends on whether you mean impact, size, evidence, or status.
Antonyms of significant
- unimportant
- insignificant
- minor
- trivial
- immaterial
- irrelevant
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| important | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| notable | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| consequential | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| substantial | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business |
| meaningful | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| momentous | 5/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| weighty | 4/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| material | 3/5 | academic | academic, business |
| statistically significant | 3/5 | academic | academic |
| real | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| reliable | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business |
| measurable | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business |
| clear-cut | 2/5 | casual | business, casual |
| conclusive | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| pronounced | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| considerable | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| marked | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| appreciable | 2/5 | formal | academic, business |
| sizeable | 3/5 | neutral | business, casual |
| large | 2/5 | casual | casual, business |
| considerable-sized | 3/5 | casual | casual |
| distinguished | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| prominent | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| eminent | 4/5 | academic | academic, business, creative |
| leading | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| respected | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
Instead of “very significant”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| very significant | important, major, serious |
| highly significant | highly important, very important, major |
| statistically significant | meaningful, real, clear |
More words related to significant
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “significant”.
- serious
- major
- big
- noticeable
- remarkable
- striking
- worthwhile
- relevant
- pertinent
- operative
- noteworthy
- influential
- high-profile
- dominant
- impactful
- telling
- convincing
- evident
- clear
- alarming
- grave
- serious-minded
- socially important
- of consequence
- of note
Questions about synonyms for significant
What is the most formal or academic synonym for significant?
In academic or technical writing, material and consequential are often the most formal alternatives, depending on whether you mean relevance or impact. For statistics, statistically significant is the exact term when a result is unlikely due to chance.
What is a stronger word than significant?
Momentous, consequential, and weighty are stronger choices when you want to emphasize serious importance or far-reaching effects. For sheer size or degree, substantial is usually stronger than significant.
What is a milder alternative to significant?
Notable, marked, or appreciable are often milder, depending on context. They suggest something worth noticing without always implying major importance.
What is another word for significant in everyday English?
Common alternatives include important, major, and notable. If you mean a difference that stands out, you can also use noticeable or considerable.
What can I say instead of significantly?
Depending on the meaning, you can say greatly, considerably, noticeably, or substantially. In a statistics context, though, significant has a special meaning, so a plain adverb may not be exact.