not so much (something) as (something else)

idiom

: less like (something) than (something else)

What bothered me was not so much what he said as how he said it.

Sailing is not so much a science as an art.

Examples of not so much (something) as (something else) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In doing so, he’s seen as adding enough to a song to make his presence felt, but not so much as to outshine the main artist. —

Li Zhou, Vox, 15 June 2024 There’s not so much as a plaque about him on the Williamsburg Bridge. —

Harry Siegel, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2024 There’s not so much as a glance in the direction of the electric-vehicle boondoggle. —

Matthew Continetti, National Review, 8 June 2024 Spackle the back of the mesh, press it in place, then use a putty knife to smooth the spackle that oozes through and remove excess, but not so much as to keep the mesh from being fully embedded. —

Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for not so much (something) as (something else)

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'not so much (something) as (something else).' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near not so much (something) as (something else)

not someone's type

not so much (something) as (something else)

not speak a word

See More Nearby Entries

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“Not so much (something) as (something else).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20so%20much%20%28something%29%20as%20%28something%20else%29. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

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