Synonym Chooser

How does the verb confirm contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of confirm are authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

When is authenticate a more appropriate choice than confirm?

While the synonyms authenticate and confirm are close in meaning, authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

When is it sensible to use corroborate instead of confirm?

While in some cases nearly identical to confirm, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

When could substantiate be used to replace confirm?

The synonyms substantiate and confirm are sometimes interchangeable, but substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

In what contexts can validate take the place of confirm?

The meanings of validate and confirm largely overlap; however, validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When would verify be a good substitute for confirm?

In some situations, the words verify and confirm are roughly equivalent. However, 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 confirm The case was brought by conservative Christian employers in Texas and challenges the legal authority of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, arguing that its members are unconstitutionally appointed because they are not confirmed by the Senate. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 One of Williams’ best attributes — confirmed by Holmes — is his instincts. Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025 But in the summer of 2023, Harry went on the Call Her Daddy podcast and seemingly confirmed their split by claiming his last girlfriend cheated on him. Joelle Goldstein, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025 Production on new episodes began in January, with Elordi, Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney among the other cast members confirmed to return. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confirm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confirm
Verb
  • Newsweek was not able to to independently verify whether all ranking officers killed belonged to Houthi military or police forces.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The usefulness of those rankings could require months or years to verify, and the AI co-scientist, which is still being evaluated by human scientists, is for now limited to biomedical research.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In February, the Trump administration had pressed Zelenskyy to sign an agreement that gave Ukraine very little and would have used profits to recoup aid the U.S. has already approved for the country.
    Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 30 Apr. 2025
  • His approval has slipped across men, women, and every racial and age group measured, with particularly low support among Black Americans, only 14 percent of whom approve of his performance.
    Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Mills argued the clause blocks the lawsuit because the Federal Tort Claims Act directs federal judges to interpret the merits of this type of case based on state law.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Those sanctuary jurisdictions argue that collaborating with ICE would drain their resources, and undermine trust between police and immigrant communities.
    Joel Rose, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The amendment was ratified in 1951, in the wake of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s four terms in office.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • But the invasion would be reserved, not ratified, as Trump and Vance and Putin are seeking.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The list of 20 stations set to receive new fare gates from the four firms has not yet been finalized.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who finalized their takeover of the club in 2021, celebrated the victory with excitement, heartfelt emotion and deep pride and passion for the team.
    Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Ja-young not only realizes what’s going on but accepts her grandson’s decision, becoming a reluctant ally in the charade.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
  • About 20 Americans will be accepted into the program to begin in June.
    Alana Wise, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Confirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confirm. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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