Synonym Chooser

How does the verb authenticate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of authenticate are confirm, corroborate, substantiate, validate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," 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 authenticate?

While the synonyms confirm and authenticate are close in meaning, confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

Where would corroborate be a reasonable alternative to authenticate?

The words corroborate and authenticate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

In what contexts can substantiate take the place of authenticate?

The words substantiate and authenticate can be used in similar contexts, but substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

When is it sensible to use validate instead of authenticate?

While in some cases nearly identical to authenticate, validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When can verify be used instead of authenticate?

Although the words verify and authenticate have much in common, 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 authenticate The guitar’s serial number is not known, but there is a unique tell that will allow it to be authenticated, according to Agnesi; the inlay on its 12th fret is solid, not split like the others on the neck, which was standard for the ES-345 at the time. Gary Graff, Billboard, 3 June 2025 Speed, Convenience and Efficiency: The ability to get immediate support without having to call a company, wait on hold, be authenticated, etc., is enough to get customers using AI. Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 This authenticates the yarn from fiber to fabric, all the way through to the finished product. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 27 May 2025 The 2015 ball was authenticated right after that called third strike. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for authenticate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authenticate
Verb
  • Unofficial results likely won't be announced by the city Board of Elections until July 1, and the results won't be officially certified until July 14.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 25 June 2025
  • Dragon is the only U.S. spacecraft certified by NASA to take astronauts to the space station.
    Brendan Byrne, NPR, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • The confusion highlights the difficulty of verifying information on social media.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
  • The notice says the department will check SNAP applicants against federal databases to verify eligibility, including checking immigration status and finding duplicate enrollments.
    Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2025
  • Yes, that’s Riley at the 1987 Lakers championship parade guaranteeing that his team would be back celebrating another title one year later.
    The Athletic NBA Staff, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Ralphs’ death was confirmed in a statement from his representative, though no exact date or cause of death was given.
    August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
  • The deal, however, wasn’t immediately publicly confirmed by either the Iranian or Israeli governments, and the missiles kept flying.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Watkins’ conviction was overturned in 2023, affirming his innocence after years of efforts by his family and the Georgia Innocence Project, according to the lawsuit.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
  • Illinois hospital emergency departments must continue to provide abortions when necessary to pregnant women whose health is in danger, despite a change in federal guidance earlier this week, state leaders affirmed Wednesday.
    Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • William Saller, a seasoned entrepreneur, can attest to that.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 23 June 2025
  • Three times uprooted Nataliia Piven can attest to that.
    Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Authenticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authenticate. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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