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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 And then, once the budget is in force — and those seemingly intentional shortfalls have been certified officially — legislators have the emergency authority to order extra spending and meet all legal obligations, also without violating the caps. Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 16 July 2025 Water filters should be certified (NSF/ANSI 53 and 58) to reduce lead. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025 SpaceX's capsules are the only US vehicles certified to fly to space with NASA astronauts, and any more US government payments to Russia to launch Americans on Soyuz missions would be politically unpalatable. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025 When choosing a supplement, look for products independently tested or certified by organizations such as NSF.org, U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), and ConsumerLab.com. Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for certify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for certify
Verb
  • The deal included $90 million guaranteed and a $13.75 million signing bonus, according to the NFL Network.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2025
  • Although named in the court documents, no person or company listed is guaranteed to be called to the witness stand if the case makes it to trial.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • The Tizen team provides comprehensive technical and marketing support, enabling an agile go-to-market process.
    John Archer, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • This enables the high-magnitude flow of campaign donations toward pollution-friendly actions in Tallahassee.
    Mel Martin, Sun Sentinel, 22 July 2025
Verb
  • His accusation couldn’t be verified in public records.
    The Marshall Project, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
  • In today's threat landscape, verifying identities isn't enough.
    Chris Bowen, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • In the interview, Snyder affirmed the company’s plans to pull out of its Irvine headquarters and relocate to Baldwin Park, which were announced last winter.
    Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 21 July 2025
  • Opening Minds Others are curating spaces that are culturally affirming and educational.
    Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • But radio stations could go dark or cut programming after Congress voted to claw back federal funds given through Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit authorized by Congress in 1967.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2025
  • Simply put, Global Payments, as a merchant acquirer, acts as a middleman between the merchant and card network to authorize and facilitate transactions.
    Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 19 July 2025
Verb
  • Trump also polled the members of Congress present about firing Powell and received a positive response, Reuters later confirmed.
    Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • As of writing, Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation have not officially confirmed a sequel to KPop Demon Hunters.
    Allison DeGrushe Published, EW.com, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Any report from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank or investment banks like Goldman Sachs will attest to that.
    William Pesek, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • As renters in expensive cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco can attest, rent control hasn’t kept their cities particularly affordable.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • An integrated approach will empower organizations to better protect themselves against the growing array of cyber threats.
    Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • The mentorship movement founded by Emmy-winning reporter Phil Taitt that brings celebrities and community leaders together to empower the next generation.
    Essence, Essence, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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