Definition of VERITABLE

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Veritable, like its close relative "verity" ("truth"), came to English through Anglo-French from Latin. It is ultimately derived from "verus," the Latin word for "true," which also gave us "verify," "aver," and "verdict." "Veritable" is often used as a synonym of "genuine" or "authentic" ("a veritable masterpiece"), but it is also frequently used to stress the aptness of a metaphor, often in a humorous tone ("a veritable swarm of lawyers"). In the past, usage commentators have objected to the latter use, but today it doesn't draw much criticism.

Examples of veritable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Steve Aoki takes his own crack at reinterpretation, building its shimmer into a veritable glow before dropping it low into growling bass jerks. — Kat Bein, Billboard, "Alan Walker Remixes Steve Aoki's 'All Night' on Remix Package: Listen," 9 Mar. 2018 Good morning from Davos, Switzerland, where the weather has improved considerably and a veritable hit parade of world leaders has taken the stage to promote their agendas. — Adam Lashinsky, Fortune, "Data Sheet—Next Big Tech to Fear: Lethal, Autonomous Micro-Drones," 25 Jan. 2018 Prediction for the season: The erstwhile Commander Lexa spent way too long as a veritable damsel in distress, finally growing into the role of post-apocalyptic soldier toward the end of season three. — Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Fear the Walking Dead': Where Everyone Left Off and What's Next (After the Big Crossover)," 8 Apr. 2018 His condition is a veritable haven for self-pity, but Krukow doesn’t understand the concept. — Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, "Mike Krukow returns, his spirit intact," 23 Feb. 2018 Her 2005 split from now-ex-husband Brad Pitt inspired a veritable lifetime of demeaning and belittling headlines that constantly paint her as the heartbroken victim in a classic love triangle (with Pitt and Angelina Jolie). — Kathryn Lindsay, refinery29.com, "Why Be Engaged When You Can Be An Ex?," 13 July 2018 In the past few years, raccoons have instated a veritable reign of terror in Brooklyn, diving in and out of dumpsters, nesting inside chimneys and walloping neighborhood cats. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian, "How Humans Created the Ultimate Superpests," 9 July 2018 At a very recent meeting of the Massachusetts Medical Society, this gentleman read a paper giving a history of the case, and presented the veritable skull which sustained the injury. — Daniel C. Schlenoff, Scientific American, "“Foul Treachery” of Trotsky and Lenin in 1918; Phineas Gage’s Brain in 1868," 13 July 2018 Just look at current and past slates of gubernatorial candidates, a veritable field of wealthy men: Bill Weld, Mitt Romney, Christy Mihos, Deval Patrick, Charlie Baker, Evan Falchuk, Jeff McCormick, Bob Massie. — Shirley Leung, BostonGlobe.com, "State law allows political candidates to expense a tuxedo, but not child care. That needs to change.," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'veritable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.