Synonym Chooser

How does the verb authenticate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of authenticate are confirm, corroborate, substantiate, validate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

When might confirm be a better fit than authenticate?

While the synonyms confirm and authenticate are close in meaning, confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

Where would corroborate be a reasonable alternative to authenticate?

The words corroborate and authenticate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

In what contexts can substantiate take the place of authenticate?

The words substantiate and authenticate can be used in similar contexts, but substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

When is it sensible to use validate instead of authenticate?

While in some cases nearly identical to authenticate, validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When can verify be used instead of authenticate?

Although the words verify and authenticate have much in common, verify implies the establishing of correspondence of actual facts or details with those proposed or guessed at.

all statements of fact in the article have been verified

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of authenticate Instead of relying on a firewall, mandate that every user or device interaction needs to be authenticated. Mike Wilson, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025 According to Alexandre Lacroix, a sculpture expert who helped authenticate the artwork, the girl on her knees resembles Claudel, while the male figure references Rodin’s Burghers of Calais, per the Art Newspaper’s Claudia Barbieri Childs. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Dec. 2024 The secret key can be unlocked only when the user authenticates to the physical key using a PIN, password, or most commonly a fingerprint or face scan. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2024 Follow the on-screen instructions to authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for authenticate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authenticate
Verb
  • Following his loss in the 2020 election to former President Joe Biden, Trump did not concede and denied the election results — which, as vice president and the president of the Senate, was Pence's duty to certify.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025
  • When choosing a supplement, look for products independently tested or certified by organizations such as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), United States Pharmacopeia (USP), or ConsumerLab.
    Jonathan Purtell, Verywell Health, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • On Blind, an anonymous messaging app that requires users to verify their employment before viewing company-specific posts, users mocked the video.
    Zoë Schiffer, WIRED, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Newsweek was unable to verify the details independently.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Russell’s case represents one of the last gasps of the Biden administration’s hard-charging approach to tackling violent far-right extremism that is all but guaranteed to change during US president Donald Trump’s second term in office.
    Ali Winston, WIRED, 29 Jan. 2025
  • If Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and Cubans are sent there, they are almost guaranteed not to find jobs.
    Will Freeman, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Other tech leaders, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, will also be in attendance, The Hill has confirmed.
    Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Senator Rubio is expected to be swiftly confirmed as secretary of state.
    CBS News, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In 2017, the federal appeals court for the Second Circuit, in affirming Mr. Ulbricht’s conviction, acknowledged the severe nature of the punishment.
    David Yaffe-Bellany, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Still, American democracy has proven to be resilient, and Congress, the branch of government closest to the people, was coming together to affirm the choice of Americans.
    LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK, TIME, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The Ordinary’s hair density serum is formulated with peptides (amino acids are all the rage) to help make hair fuller, encourage new growth, and strengthen the hair cuticle—and shoppers are attesting to its effectiveness.
    Christina Shepherd McGuire, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
  • The folks in in Philly can attest and are eager to see what Fangio has in the offing for Sunday’s game against the Rams. 7.
    Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near authenticate

Cite this Entry

“Authenticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authenticate. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on authenticate

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