Background
Background noun - The physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed.
Substance and background are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Substance" instead a noun "Background".
Substance
Substance noun - The basic elements from which something can be developed.
Background and substance are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Background" instead a noun "Substance".
Mutual synonyms
How words are described
| similar | similar background | similar substance |
| common | common background | common substance |
| specific | specific background | specific substance |
| solid | solid background | solid substance |
| Other adjectives: green, single, actual, real, blue, little, black, white, new, brown, yellow, mysterious, unusual, different, red, purple. | ||
Both words in one sentence
-
According to background info, his body is made of a liquid metal-like substance, which allows him to do this.
Source: Elemental Shapeshifter - The one element that's not a real-life chemical element, Atium, is implied to be an unstable isotope of one of the more massive elements, though the story declines naming a specific substance in order to avoid fridge logic from readers with a stronger background in chemistry than the author.
Source: Artistic License Chemistry -
Vampire is based around casing out your enemy and playing politics, then turning on him with combat only once the mandatory dramatic bristling is done; all against a background of having to conserve a consumable substance (blood) as the core mechanic.
Cite this Source
Substance and Background. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/background/substance
Background & Substance. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/background/substance>.
Substance or Background. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/background/substance.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "background" and "substance" have occurred on timeline