Synonym Chooser

How does the verb validate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of validate are authenticate, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When might authenticate be a better fit than validate?

Although the words authenticate and validate have much in common, authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

In what contexts can confirm take the place of validate?

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

confirmed the reports

When would corroborate be a good substitute for validate?

While in some cases nearly identical to validate, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

Where would substantiate be a reasonable alternative to validate?

The synonyms substantiate and validate are sometimes interchangeable, but substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

When is verify a more appropriate choice than validate?

The meanings of verify and validate largely overlap; however, 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 validate Many critics had accused Scarborough and Brzezinski of normalizing and even validating Trump’s actions by visiting him in an unofficial setting. Harrison Chon-Walker, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2025 Acceptance could be seen as a tacit admission of guilt or wrongdoing, validating years of attacks by Trump and his supporters, even though those who have been pardoned have not been formally accused of any crimes. Colleen Long, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025 In the months leading up to the election, the Trump campaign conducted a full-court press to appeal to this demographic, aligning Mr. Trump with a constellation of podcast hosts and YouTubers who put out irreverent entertainment while validating young men’s frustrations with the status quo. Callie Holtermann, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025 Leveraging Word-of-Mouth Advocacy: Cultivate relationships with credible advocates who can validate your brand authentically within niche communities. Lilian Raji, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for validate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for validate
Verb
  • Bank statements: Lenders typically require statements from the past two months to verify you have adequate savings and to check for any red flags.
    Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2025
  • To verify the laws and guidelines in your state, contact your local child welfare agency.
    Sarah Scott, Parents, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Arguably, the biggest snubs can be traced back to the best actress and supporting actress categories, proving there were just too many stunning performances by women to possibly reward them all.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Intersex people are human beings too and deserve dignified lives beyond just proving bigotry wrong.
    Alicia Roth Weigel, TIME, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Jim Rutherford’s interview this week with The Globe and Mail confirmed as much.
    Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 1 Feb. 2025
  • Whitaker was unanimously confirmed as FAA administrator in October 2023.
    Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Here's how to establish authority on LinkedIn in record time.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes, 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
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Validate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/validate. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on validate

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