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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 Before the storm, the majority of New Orleans educators were Black women, like Gilbert, who were certified to teach, and the average teacher had about 15 years of experience. Aubri Juhasz, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025 In 1949, Miss America Jacque Mercer was married and divorced, which prompted the Miss America organization to create a rule that pageant contestants must certify that they had never been married or pregnant. Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025 Bernow cautions anyone seeking out stem cell therapy to ensure the clinic is certified under the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) Regulations, meaning the facility has been vetted and approved for safe and effective manufacturing. Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025 In July, the judge certified a plaintiffs’ class, which is believed to include the authors and publishers of about 500,000 works in total. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for certify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for certify
Verb
  • The pre-authorization letters included a line saying payment was not guaranteed, but Sutton-Schulman didn’t think much of it.
    Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Spending guarantees nothing by itself, but if all teams were highly competent, using the time value of money with a rising cap would seem to create a competitive advantage.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This approach has enabled Apex to scale quickly while maintaining the stability and resources associated with a corporate partnership.
    William Jones, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Families in more than a dozen states now enjoy universal-eligibility school choice, enabling them to access a portion of education funding to use toward their preferred educational setting.
    Kerry McDonald, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • However, a law enforcement source later told The New York Times that the findings, from a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms report, had not been verified by the agency’s analysts and could have been misinterpreted.
    Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • If verified, some researchers suggest this respite also could be a glimpse of future hurricane seasons, with the historic early-to-mid-September peak pushed back on the calendar.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Having breathed in the fresh air of the mountains, affirmed his love for his girlfriend, and taken in the beautiful view, Daniel all but forgets about his fight with his mother.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Since then, however, the court has allowed states to ban gender-affirming care for minors and has agreed to review Idaho’s and West Virginia’s bans on transgender athletes joining sports teams.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Minneapolis City Council authorized the city attorney’s office to bring litigation against a property owner who has refused to clear a homeless encampment on his property, moving in favor by a vote of 6-4 during a special meeting on Monday morning.
    Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will soon open applications for its $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, as authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
    Ge Bai, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The 200-acre campus, now called Aspiria, is a contender for a potential Royals ballpark after the team confirmed that an affiliate purchased the mortgage of the campus in the spring, giving the team some financial leverage over the site.
    Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the victim as Daniella Weisman from Glencoe, a spokesperson confirms to PEOPLE.
    Jillian Frankel, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Many Bachelor Nation fans can attest that the franchise has been in need of an overhaul for a while now.
    Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The nongreasy formula also delivers a luminous, glowy finish that even shoppers in their 80s can attest to.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Leaders must empower their teams to take ownership of processes, encourage open communication, and foster a culture where innovation and improvement are expected.
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Clearly, the bulk of the credit goes to all the work Brazilians have done since the transition to democracy to empower their judicial institutions.
    Omar G. Encarnación, Time, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Certify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/certify. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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