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as in to guarantee
to declare (something) to be true or genuine experts certified the letter as indeed having been written by Abraham Lincoln

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb certify contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of certify are attest, vouch, and witness. While all these words mean "to testify to the truth or genuineness of something," certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal.

certified that the candidate had met all requirements

When would attest be a good substitute for certify?

The meanings of attest and certify largely overlap; however, attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses.

attested to the authenticity of the document

In what contexts can vouch take the place of certify?

In some situations, the words vouch and certify are roughly equivalent. However, vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person.

willing to vouch for her integrity

When could witness be used to replace certify?

Although the words witness and certify 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 certify The company uses low-impact dyes, compostable or recyclable packaging, and avoids synthetics unless recycled; all its cotton bedding and towels are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified. Darryn King, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025 Formal opposition to the bill came from a handful of Republicans, whose concerns focused on the bill’s partial ban on certain rat poisons that would limit their use to professionals certified by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2025 It was recently certified 24-time platinum by the RIAA. Lucas Villa, Variety, 16 May 2025 Ten of those 21 controllers and supervisors are receiving on-the-job training; all 10 are certified in at least one position, and two are certified in multiple positions. Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for certify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for certify
Verb
  • And yet, the arc of history is not guaranteed to bend toward justice.
    Jack Hill, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
  • The founding documents of the United States of America guarantee unalienable rights to the people.
    Moti Mizrahi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • That's thanks to a €800-million (US$905-million) shot in the arm from the Indian two-wheeler giant that will enable KTM to bring its production facilities roaring back to life.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 23 May 2025
  • The Golden Power legislation enables the Italian government to intercede or set conditions on foreign and domestic corporate takeovers in key sectors, including banking.
    Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • In Bitcoin, nodes verify signatures and miners’ proof of work.
    Korok Ray, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Videos of the strikes have circulated widely, but the footage could not be independently verified.
    Yevgeny Kuklychev Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • But all eyes are likely to be on A$AP Rocky, who’s done some scattered acting before, but who appears in his biggest role to date as Yung Felon, a part whose place in the story has yet to be revealed, but that’s been affirmed by Lee to be a major one.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 13 May 2025
  • The new pope’s brother had to resolve an online dispute by affirming Leo is a fan of the South Side’s Chicago White Sox and not the North Side’s Cubs.
    Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández, The Conversation, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • Impenetrable custody, for example, eliminates all digital input to the storage environment while still enabling institutions to seamlessly create and authorize transactions without ever exposing the private key.
    Lior Lamesh, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • One exception to this rule authorizes workers’ compensation benefits where the employment makes the employee’s commute especially risky.
    Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Steve Burton confirms 'General Hospital' exit over vaccine mandate: This 'hurts'Need a break?
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • However, more research is needed to confirm these effects in humans.
    Jennifer Moll, Verywell Health, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • The announcements from the United States and China at Davos, followed by Europe’s response at the Paris AI Action Summit, attest to that.
    Sylvain Duranton, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • Even so, that dimmer wattage does little to dull a film that plays like cine-karaoke — and as any mic fiend can attest, the glory in those moments belongs not to the singer, but the song.
    Ben Croll, IndieWire, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Conceptualized and developed by High Profile Lifestyle (HPL), Freelancers Unplugged is a 6-part concert series created to inspire, empower, and celebrate freelancers across the entertainment industry.
    Malana VanTyle, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • For starters, a team that’s aligned on the mission and empowered to make decisions is going to move faster—way faster—than one waiting around for the boss’s rubber stamp.
    Allison Maslan, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Certify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/certify. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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