Synonym Chooser

How does the verb corroborate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of corroborate are authenticate, confirm, substantiate, validate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

When is it sensible to use authenticate instead of corroborate?

Although the words authenticate and corroborate have much in common, authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

Where would confirm be a reasonable alternative to corroborate?

The synonyms confirm and corroborate are sometimes interchangeable, but confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

When is substantiate a more appropriate choice than corroborate?

The meanings of substantiate and corroborate largely overlap; however, 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 corroborate?

While in some cases nearly identical to corroborate, validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When could verify be used to replace corroborate?

In some situations, the words verify and corroborate 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 corroborate Police at the time were unable to corroborate this claim, the statement from the prosecutor’s office said. Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 3 June 2025 This point was corroborated by another source with direct dealings with Yale. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 June 2025 The details of the hose incident differ based on two accounts, per the investigation, but a male employee corroborated the details of the female employee. Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2025 The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers corroborating evidence: hiring in professional and business services at a 15-year low. Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for corroborate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corroborate
Verb
  • Ralphs’ death was confirmed in a statement from his representative, though no exact date or cause of death was given.
    August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
  • For a time, Cruz would let women know about misoprostol—how to procure and take it—and support them through the process while the doctor would provide consultations and follow-up care to those who needed it, such as an ultrasound to confirm gestation or monitoring of heavy bleeding.
    Rebecca Grant June 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2025
  • The goal isn’t to separate the machine from the workforce, but to build an inclusive system where the two operate together, reinforcing each other’s strengths.
    Priya Vijayarajendran, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • The confusion highlights the difficulty of verifying information on social media.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
  • One person attempting to enroll in the L.A. Community College District came to an in-person meeting to verify their identity and presented a California driver’s license with the weight listed in kilograms, said Nicole Albo-Lopez, the deputy chancellor of LACCD.
    Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • From there, the Rockets bolstered its wing depth by signing Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year deal to replace Dillon Brooks’ three-and-d production.
    Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • To her, these monochromatic portraits bolster an African aesthetic due to their classic feel that stands the test of time.
    Ugonnaora Owoh, Essence, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Democrats, led by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, had argued that in recent decades Congress gradually surrendered war-making powers to the president.
    Robert Jimison, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Justice Amy Coney Barrett argued only the Supreme Court can provide such universal relief.
    Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Kennedy’s actions are potentially deadly, and the CDC has the data to prove it.
    Michael A. Hiltzik, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
  • Venter said there was no evidence to prove that covid-19 had been manipulated in a lab, nor was there any indication the virus had been spreading before December 2019 anywhere outside of China.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Corroborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corroborate. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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