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Insubstantial vs Gossamer - What's the difference?

insubstantial | gossamer | Synonyms |

As adjectives the difference between insubstantial and gossamer

is that insubstantial is lacking substance; not real or strong while gossamer is tenuous, light, filmy or delicate.

As a noun gossamer is

a fine film or strand as of cobwebs, floating in the air or caught on bushes etc.

insubstantial

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Lacking substance; not real or strong.
    • The bridge was insubstantial and would not safely carry a car.

    Synonyms

    * unsubstantial (archaic)

    Antonyms

    * substantial

    gossamer

    English

    Noun

  • A fine film or strand as of cobwebs, floating in the air or caught on bushes etc.
  • A soft, sheer fabric.
  • Anything delicate, light and flimsy.

    • Derived terms

    * gossamery (adjective)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Tenuous, light, filmy or delicate.
  • * (Thomas Bailey Aldrich) (1836-1907)
    • The heaven was spangled with tremulous stars, and at the horizon the clouds hung down in gossamer folds—God's robe trailing in the sea!
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Michael Arlen), title= “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days, chapter=Ep./1/2
    • , passage=He walked. To the corner of Hamilton Place and Picadilly, and there stayed for a while, for it is a romantic station by night. The vague and careless rain looked like threads of gossamer silver passing across the light of the arc-lamps.}}

    Synonyms

    * gossamery