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 vet confirmed what the family suspected—the senior dog is grieving. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025 Jennifer Lopez confirmed this with her extra-wide, flowy jeans on July 14. Luz García, Glamour, 8 Aug. 2025 Multiple sources have confirmed to PEOPLE that the actress has been dating Curtis for a few months. Julia Moore, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025 Requests to the city to confirm the number were not returned by deadline. Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confirm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confirm
Verb
  • Despite failing to verify her identity, Bardisa was reportedly offered a promotion in January 2025.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • The letter would also have to verify that the data center wouldn’t cause electrical interference or fluctuations in line voltage, according to the ordinance.
    Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Getting approved for disability takes time and isn’t easy, but many people succeed after filing an appeal.
    David Ozeri, Health, 16 Aug. 2025
  • But there is little evidence to support Musk’s claim, given that no Tesla vehicles are currently approved for full self-driving.
    John Hyatt, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The media company argued that the statements were not fabricated.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The officer told the two males to stop arguing and called for assistance.
    Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The warrant means that Putin is unable to travel to countries that have ratified the Rome Statute.
    Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The union also said Wednesday that workers with Super A Foods ratified their new contract last month.
    Pat Maio, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • While the Mecklenburg property is currently under contract with the corporation, the use of TIF funds must be approved by Cincinnati City Council before the sale is finalized.
    Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Funeral plans have yet to be finalized, but O’Dell is planning on having a celebration of life with a butterfly release, likely in Grandview.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Democracy supporters opposed to the junta have warned the international community against falling for the military’s election plan, and say such a poll will never be accepted by the people.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Another issue is that the short-term solutions — often called levers — previously deployed to raise money to spend on transfers have not always been accepted by La Liga, who want the club to be run in a more sustainable way.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Confirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confirm. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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