Synonym Chooser

How does the verb verify contrast with its synonyms?

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

When is it sensible to use authenticate instead of verify?

The meanings of authenticate and verify largely overlap; however, authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

When could confirm be used to replace verify?

While the synonyms confirm and verify 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 verify?

Although the words corroborate and verify have much in common, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

When might substantiate be a better fit than verify?

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

the claims have yet to be substantiated

In what contexts can validate take the place of verify?

The words validate and verify can be used in similar contexts, but validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

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 verify The details of the case have not been independently verified. Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 The initial discovery resulted from a consumer query, leading Frito-Lay to verify and confirm the presence of undeclared milk ingredients. Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 29 Jan. 2025 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 Douglas County investigators verified the DNA results linking Jefferson to the scene through an outside lab, but they were now faced with Woods’ actions tainting their lynchpin piece of evidence, Brauchler said. Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for verify 

Thesaurus Entries Near verify

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on verify

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