substantiate

1 of 2

verb

sub·​stan·​ti·​ate səb-ˈstan(t)-shē-ˌāt 

substantiated; substantiating

transitive verb

1

: to give substance or form to : embody

2

: to establish by proof or competent evidence : verify

substantiate a charge

substantiation

səb-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈā-shən 

noun

substantiative

səb-ˈstan(t)-shē-ˌā-tiv 

adjective

substantiation

2 of 2

noun

sub·​stan·​ti·​a·​tion

plural -s

1

: an act of substantiating (as by proving)

2

: something adduced as proof : evidence

substantiative

⸗ˈ⸗⸗ˌātiv 

chiefly substandard ⸗ˈ⸗⸗ˌwā-

adjective

Synonyms of substantiate

Verb

• prove
• establish
• demonstrate

Choose the Right Synonym for substantiate

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 substantiate in a Sentence

Verb

substantiated his claim to local mountaineering fame with a photo of himself on the summit of Mount McKinley

Mr. MacGregor couldn't substantiate that it was Peter, and not some other rabbit, in the cabbage patch.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

If a claim is substantiated, the plagiarist is seen as sloppy or lazy at best, and fundamentally dishonest at worst. — Roger J. Kreuz, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

The evidence at the scene didn’t substantiate his insinuation that Lindsey killed herself in the shower, however, investigators said in the affidavit. — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026

According to the whistleblower complaint, attorneys assigned to investigate Brown did not substantiate any violations of Title VI, instead determining the school had promptly and effectively responded to the handful of incidents that occurred. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

The department will move to terminate him if the claims are substantiated, the spokesperson said. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for substantiate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

substantiate

verb

sub·​stan·​ti·​ate səb-ˈstan-chē-ˌāt 

substantiated; substantiating

1

: to give substance or form to : embody

2

: to establish by proof or evidence

substantiate a claim

substantiation

-ˌstan-chē-ˈā-shən 

noun