insubstantial

Word family  noun substance substantiation substantive adjective substantial ≠ insubstantial substantive verb substantiate adverb substantially

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++in·sub·stan·tial /ˌɪnsəbˈstænʃəl◂/ adjective  1  formalBREAK not solid, large, strong, or definite 不坚实的；不大的；脆弱的；不明确的 The evidence seemed very insubstantial. 证据看起来很不可靠。 an insubstantial meal 不丰盛的一顿饭 the insubstantial outline of a ship 一艘船不清晰的轮廓2  literaryAL not existing as a real object or person 非实体的；虚幻的 insubstantial ghosts 虚幻的幽灵

Examples from the Corpus

insubstantial• Epstein called the evidence insubstantial.

in·sub·stan·tial adjectiveChineseSyllable  

definite not or solid, Corpus large, strong,

insubstantial
in‧sub‧stan‧tial /ˌɪnsəbˈstænʃəl◂/ adjective1. formal not solid, large, strong, or definite:
    The evidence seemed very insubstantial.
    an insubstantial meal
    the insubstantial outline of a ship
2. literary not existing as a real object or person:
    insubstantial ghosts

in·sub·stan·tialBrE /ˌɪnsəbˈstænʃl/ 🔊NAmE /ˌɪnsəbˈstænʃl/ 🔊 adjectivenot very large, strong or important 不大的；不坚固的；不重要的◆an insubstantial construction of wood and glue用木头和胶黏合的简单构造◆an insubstantial argument不充实的论据(literary) not real or solid 非真实的；非实体的；虚幻的◆as insubstantial as a shadow虚无缥缈