attest

1
as in to certify
to declare (something) to be true or genuine the appraiser attests that the lamp is indeed an original Tiffany

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to testify
to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact an eyewitness who will attest to my innocence

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb attest contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of attest are certify, vouch, and witness. While all these words mean "to testify to the truth or genuineness of something," attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses.

attested to the authenticity of the document

When would certify be a good substitute for attest?

The words certify and attest can be used in similar contexts, but certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal.

certified that the candidate had met all requirements

When could vouch be used to replace attest?

The meanings of vouch and attest largely overlap; however, vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person.

willing to vouch for her integrity

When is witness a more appropriate choice than attest?

Although the words witness and attest have much in common, witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness.

witnessed the signing of the will

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 attest According to Nessel, Smothers agreed to sign a false affidavit in May 2019, attesting to details of the beauty salon shooting that bolstered Anderson's self-defense story. Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Jetelina says another potential scenario is that pharmacists might require that such individuals sign paperwork attesting to their risk factors to receive a COVID vaccine. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2025 Australian playwright Tony McNamara has turned his side hustle as a screenwriter into a blessing for Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things, The Favourite), and viewers of The Great, his bawdy historical farce for Hulu, can attest to his love of layered, lacerating insults. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025 Walkinshaw attests that print is a powerful medium that is valued. Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for attest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attest
Verb
  • Airlines for America, a trade group representing American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other carriers, asked the agency to delay the compliance by two years because the FAA had yet to certify the barriers, and no manuals, procedures or training programs were authorized.
    Colson Thayer, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Qualified instructors must be previously certified as an air traffic controller with experience in an airport facility, Kendall told Forbes.
    Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • During Thursday's hearing, a sheriff's deputy testified that the bodies were found covered by camouflage tarps in woods on state land in Tiptonville.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Charles Adelson testified at length in his own trial before he was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
    Lauren del Valle, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The news organizations verified the data, including by soliciting input from professors at universities in Texas.
    ProPublica, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
  • At one point during the hearing, the Health secretary claimed that Black boys who receive the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine have a higher risk of autism, which has never been verified by scientists.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But Prescott's return and the addition of Pickens alone don't guarantee that Dallas will be a top-flight offense.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Quench them with a copious deluge of water and stir to guarantee complete cooling.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • North Korean state media also confirmed that Kim was attending the parade at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
    Stella Kim, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Evergreen Park coach Jim Ramazinski confirmed that Evans will play a big role in helping this year’s team try to achieve that goal.
    Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In a Chinese readout of a meeting with Xi on Sunday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev affirmed support for Beijing's stance on Taiwan, and signed documents for cooperation on AI.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Indeed, concentration camps prove to be a viable political option with a friendly Supreme Court ready to affirm President Cadwallader’s unprecedented use of executive orders.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The plaintiffs argued the displacement was motivated by a desire to limit readers' access to books with viewpoints that are unpopular and controversial in the area.
    Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • But there are Republicans who argue that the changes to Medicaid strengthen the program for the most vulnerable.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In Antarctica, research stations like McMurdo will also witness a dramatic partial eclipse.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • If the marathons of New York and London showcase splendour and establishment and magnificence and size and place, then the Great North Run offers something else; to complete it, to witness it, is to understand its pull.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Attest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attest. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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