unsubstantial
Without real weight
Unsubstantial means lacking substance, solidity, or strength.
An unsubstantial structure might collapse; an unsubstantial argument fails to convince.
The word suggests something flimsy, insubstantial, or without real foundation: The evidence was unsubstantial—mere rumor and speculation.
It can describe things that seem ghostly or dreamlike: unsubstantial shadows flickering on the wall.
Easily broken or damaged
- weakLacking power or force
- thinSmall in diameter
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
- wispyThin and insubstantial
delicate · frail · brittle · breakable · shaky · wobbly · rickety · crumbly
Light and well-ventilated
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
- diaphanousDelicately translucent
- gauzyThin and transparent
- sheerAbsolute; also diaphanous
translucent · wispy · vaporous · misty · spectral · ghostly · wraithlike · incorporeal
Passing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- momentaryLasting very briefly
- temporaryLimited in duration
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
short-lived · impermanent · passing · transitory · brief · fading · vanishing · perishable
Insufficient in amount
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
- scantBarely adequate amount
- skimpyInadequate in size or amount
- thinSmall in diameter
inadequate · insufficient · paltry · meager · poor · lean · slight · bare
Of little importance
- triflingOf no real importance
- minorScale with lowered third
- negligibleToo small to consider
- inconsequentialLacking significance or impact
piddling · picayune · footling · nugatory · fiddling · paltry · measly · inconsiderable
fragile
Easily broken or damaged
wispy · delicate · frail · brittle · breakable · shaky · wobbly · rickety · crumbly · friable
airy
Light and well-ventilated
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
- diaphanousDelicately translucent
- gauzyThin and transparent
sheer · translucent · wispy · vaporous · misty · spectral · ghostly · wraithlike · incorporeal · intangible
fleeting
Passing very quickly
evanescent · short-lived · impermanent · passing · transitory · brief · fading · vanishing · perishable · volatile
scanty
Insufficient in amount
thin · inadequate · insufficient · paltry · meager · poor · lean · slight · bare · deficient
petty
Of little importance
- triflingOf no real importance
- minorScale with lowered third
- negligibleToo small to consider
inconsequential · piddling · picayune · footling · nugatory · fiddling · paltry · measly · inconsiderable · slight
nebulous
Unclear and formless
- obscureUnknown to most
- unclearNot easily understood
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
fuzzy · hazy · murky · shadowy · dim · amorphous · undefined · indefinite · formless · shapeless
unsubstantialwell-founded
Having sound basis
substantial · undeniable · solid · sound · valid