corroborate

verb

cor·​rob·​o·​rate kə-ˈrä-bə-ˌrāt How to pronounce corroborate (audio)
corroborated; corroborating

transitive verb

: to support with evidence or authority : make more certain
corroboration noun
corroborative
kə-ˈrä-bə-ˌrā-tiv How to pronounce corroborate (audio)
-ˈrä-b(ə-)rə-
adjective
corroborator noun
corroboratory adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for corroborate

confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify, authenticate, validate mean to attest to the truth or validity of something.

confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

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

authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

Examples of corroborate in a Sentence

Studies that are wrong will be superseded by better studies with different results. Studies that are right will be corroborated by other good studies. Harriet Hall, Skeptic, 2007
Evidence like this is rarely conclusive, but it can help police corroborate testimony … David Fisher, Hard Evidence, 1995
… the great Dr. Woodruff … corroborated my doctor's belief that my two infections had been resolved … James Thurber 7 Mar. 1946, in Selected Letters Of James Thurber(1980) 1981
the witnesses corroborated the policeman's testimony my personal experience does not corroborate your faith in the essential goodness of people
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
On Sunday, Cox told Meet the Press that Robinson was allegedly in a romantic relationship with a roommate who is trans, providing no additional public corroborating data or information of the roommate's gender. Abby Monteil, Them., 19 Sep. 2025 But the affirmation is merely asserted; nothing in the book corroborates it. Garth Greenwell, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 Whether that additional context corroborates the content or contradicts it, the act of gathering that info will give you a feeling of control over the information and control over your reaction to it. Jay Sullivan, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 However, another jailhouse informant, David Vogel, later gave a recorded interview to a DA investigator, also saying Neary admitted to stabbing the victim, corroborating Lunsford’s original statement. Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for corroborate

Word History

Etymology

Latin corroboratus, past participle of corroborare, from com- + robor-, robur strength

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of corroborate was in 1529

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Corroborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corroborate. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

corroborate

verb
cor·​rob·​o·​rate kə-ˈräb-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce corroborate (audio)
corroborated; corroborating
: to support with evidence or authority
corroborated my brother's story
corroboration noun
corroborative
-ˈräb-ə-ˌrāt-iv How to pronounce corroborate (audio)
-ˈräb-(ə-)rət-iv
adjective
corroborator noun
corroboratory adjective

Legal Definition

corroborate

transitive verb
cor·​rob·​o·​rate kə-ˈrä-bə-ˌrāt How to pronounce corroborate (audio)
corroborated; corroborating
: to support with evidence or authority : strengthen or make more certain
corroboration noun
corroborative adjective
Etymology

Latin corroboratus, past participle of corroborare to strengthen, from com-, prefix marking completion + robur strength, literally, oak tree

More from Merriam-Webster on corroborate

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