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
Most celeb auto auctions, of course, leave not so much as a fingerprint on a steering wheel or a breath of steam on the windshield.
—
Josh Max, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Respiration rate measurements skewed slightly high on the Watch 2R, but not so much as to cause concern.
—PCMAG, 12 Oct. 2024
Her tennis court is under construction, too, which explains why Serena Williams has not so much as picked up a racket in three months.
—Mattie Kahn, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2024
The textiles used are traditional but creative, the color palette is a neutral one tied to the colors of the surrounding environment, the design touches are contemporary but not so much as to be jarring in contrast to the more typical safari furniture designs.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for not so much (something) as (something else) 
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Josh Max, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Respiration rate measurements skewed slightly high on the Watch 2R, but not so much as to cause concern.
—PCMAG, 12 Oct. 2024
Her tennis court is under construction, too, which explains why Serena Williams has not so much as picked up a racket in three months.
—Mattie Kahn, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2024
The textiles used are traditional but creative, the color palette is a neutral one tied to the colors of the surrounding environment, the design touches are contemporary but not so much as to be jarring in contrast to the more typical safari furniture designs.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for not so much (something) as (something else)
Dictionary Entries Near not so much (something) as (something else)
not so much (something) as (something else)
Cite this Entry
“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 1 Dec. 2024.
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