Desubstantialized

To deprive something of its essential substance or reality; to render something insubstantial, immaterial, or abstract; to diminish the perceived concrete nature of something, often by removing its foundational elements or changing its form. This process can apply to physical objects, abstract concepts, or even personal experiences, making them seem less real or less significant. It implies a loss of core meaning or the dissolution of a defined form into something less tangible or definite.

Desubstantialized meaning with examples

• The artist's abstract paintings, through the use of color and form alone, desubstantialized the traditional concept of the human form, leaving only impressions and feelings. The viewer was left to ponder a world stripped of recognizable features.
• Constant media coverage of the conflict, filled with repetitive soundbites and dehumanizing language, gradually desubstantialized the individual suffering of the people affected, transforming it into an abstract statistic.
• The architect's design, with its focus on transparency and open space, intentionally desubstantialized the traditional barriers between the indoors and the outdoors, creating a fluid and immersive environment. The building seemed to breathe with the outside.
• After years of bureaucratic hurdles, the original intent of the social program was sadly desubstantialized. The program was made less effective by cuts, making it less meaningful and efficient for those it was intended to serve.