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

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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

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 substantiate Nearly two weeks after the incident took place, the WNBA said Tuesday that the league could not substantiate the claims made against fans in attendance at the game despite the uproar the investigation caused on social media. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025 The Willow Smith rumors that surfaced last year have never been substantiated in any way, and Smith seemingly has no reason to testify in the trial. Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 23 May 2025 Image Image Despite investigations by the Department of Justice, the F.B.I. and the E.P.A.’s acting inspector general, no evidence of waste or fraud has materialized to substantiate Mr. Zeldin’s concerns. Claire Brown, New York Times, 17 May 2025 But Department of Social Services regulators have substantiated a host of other violations in recent years and ordered the facility to implement corrective actions, records show. Jeff McDonald, Mercury News, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for substantiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantiate
Verb
  • Kennedy’s actions are potentially deadly, and the CDC has the data to prove it.
    Michael A. Hiltzik, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
  • Meteorologists are losing a sophisticated tool that many say has proved invaluable when monitoring and forecasting hurricanes.
    Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Developing apparel made from more sustainable materials, setting company-wide climate targets verified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and enhancing traceability and social compliance programs are central to this strategy.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 June 2025
  • However, age verification has become increasingly accurate, and computer vision can now even be used to verify a consumer’s age before purchasing alcohol.
    Michael Jaszczyk, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • And in some ways, Kelly embodies much of what makes this current Tigers team — one with first-place status and the best record in the American League — tick.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • Endless Summer by Free People Santa Maria maxi dress: $128 This Endless Summer by Free People maxi dress embodies the essence of boho chic with its flowing silhouette and intricate patterns.
    Jené Luciani Sena may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • The cinematic shot language of existential car racing is, of course, well established.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 June 2025
  • Of the five that made the cut, the Yankees, Tigers and Cubs have the best statistical odds, establishing themselves among a clear group of favorites that have begun to coalesce at the top of the rankings midway through the season.
    Neil Paine, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2025
  • But the narrative was reinforced Tuesday afternoon when Alphonso Davies, recovering from an ACL tear suffered in March, arrived at Canada’s hotel to support his teammates.
    Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • The rift between Carlson and Cruz demonstrates that even among President Trump’s biggest supporters, there’s been considerable debate about how the U.S. should deal with the powder keg situation that escalated Friday when Israel launched airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
  • Your contrarian takes demonstrate independent thinking that can't be faked or prompted into existence.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • For a time, Cruz would let women know about misoprostol—how to procure and take it—and support them through the process while the doctor would provide consultations and follow-up care to those who needed it, such as an ultrasound to confirm gestation or monitoring of heavy bleeding.
    Rebecca Grant June 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
  • This weekend, the woman was confirmed as the man’s partner, 28-year-old Russian national Anastasia Trofimova (who is not the documentarian of the same name), and the child, their 11-month-old daughter Andromeda.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • On a broader scale, legislators have expressed frustration for years about high prices — whether for a new college graduate seeking an affordable apartment or for a young family trying to afford a pricier suburb with good schools like West Hartford or Glastonbury.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2025
  • Ambassadors from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait on Saturday met with Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to express concerns about the consequences of a U.S. attack.
    Colin Meyn, The Hill, 22 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Substantiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantiate. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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