1
as in to prove
to gain full recognition or acceptance of substantiated his claim to local mountaineering fame with a photo of himself on the summit of Mount McKinley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to embody
to represent in visible form the artist's intense feelings are substantiated by his paintings' bold colors and broad brush strokes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) Darwin spent the rest of his life gathering evidence to substantiate his theory of the origin of species

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb substantiate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of substantiate are authenticate, confirm, corroborate, validate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

When is authenticate a more appropriate choice than substantiate?

Although the words authenticate and substantiate have much in common, 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 substantiate?

The meanings of confirm and substantiate largely overlap; however, confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

In what contexts can corroborate take the place of substantiate?

While the synonyms corroborate and substantiate are close in meaning, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

When could validate be used to replace substantiate?

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

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When would verify be a good substitute for substantiate?

The words verify and substantiate can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Examples 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 substantiate However, little evidence was presented to substantiate these claims. David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024 Incorporate real human stories to substantiate your content. Nitin Gupta, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 After the initial contact, Eggleston would typically receive a packet with letters from acquaintances and other information to substantiate their arguments for the Justice Department review. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024 The university has denied these allegations, and a Mountain West investigation into the incident concluded that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims. Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for substantiate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantiate
Verb
  • But the three points gained from Sunday, which lifted United above City into the Champions League spots, may prove to have more of a lasting impact.
    Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Surely one of them will eventually prove to be good.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 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
  • Always go directly to the company's site to verify any travel offer.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • My mom embodied everything soft and strong simultaneously.
    Jordan Greene, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Inspired by the romance of Paris—the city of love—this collection embodies the charm and allure that fills its streets.
    Essence, Essence, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • President Donald Trump formally established the Department of Government Efficiency within the federal government in an executive action this week.
    Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The 23-year-old established himself among Europe’s leading attackers during his time at Napoli.
    The Athletic UK Staff, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Notably, first lady Melania Trump accompanied the president to reinforce a meaningfulness to the trip.
    Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Yet each step of my journey—from the subzero climate of my youth to the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape of Silicon Valley—has only reinforced my belief that, with vision and determination, technology can open doors most people never knew existed.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Despite these challenges, the Texans' strong playoff run—despite falling short in the divisional round to Kansas City—demonstrated that the team is close to competing at a higher level.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
  • His involvement with the Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement further demonstrates his commitment to advancing efficiency and innovation in the industry.
    Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • You may be asked to confirm your decision by clicking Yes.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 19 Jan. 2025
  • More research is needed to confirm spearmint's potential use as a testosterone-lowering treatment.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The other side: House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth shot down the idea of tax increases for currently exempt financial and legal services, and expressed concerns about the impacts the cuts would have on long-term care.
    Torey Van Oot, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Vince Ortega, the executive director of Jackson County COMBAT, expressed optimism that Kansas City would see fewer shootings in 2025.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near substantiate

Cite this Entry

“Substantiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantiate. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on substantiate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!