1
as in to prove
to gain full recognition or acceptance of substantiated his claim to local mountaineering fame with a photo of himself on the summit of Mount McKinley

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to embody
to represent in visible form the artist's intense feelings are substantiated by his paintings' bold colors and broad brush strokes

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) Darwin spent the rest of his life gathering evidence to substantiate his theory of the origin of species

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb substantiate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of substantiate are authenticate, confirm, corroborate, validate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

When is authenticate a more appropriate choice than substantiate?

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

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

When might confirm be a better fit than substantiate?

The meanings of confirm and substantiate largely overlap; however, confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

In what contexts can corroborate take the place of substantiate?

While the synonyms corroborate and substantiate are close in meaning, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

When could validate be used to replace substantiate?

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

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When would verify be a good substitute for substantiate?

The words verify and substantiate can be used in similar contexts, but 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 substantiate While the numbers are high, the cases are rarely substantiated. Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025 Some other folks were giving me information that might maybe substantiate it. Fiction Non Fiction august 21, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2025 None of these allegations were substantiated as courts across the country rejected dozens of related lawsuits, and audits and recounts consistently confirmed Biden's victory. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025 Yet there has been nothing in Putin’s behavior to substantiate such a claim. Simon Shuster, Time, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for substantiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantiate
Verb
  • There was no such good fortune this time in the Pacific Northwest as Washington proved to be too big, too fast and too good, coming in as a 35-point favorite and then unleashing a record performance.
    Joe Davidosn, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Ultimately, the Bundys and five others were acquitted of all charges after jurors said prosecutors failed to prove their intent.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The news organizations verified the data, including by soliciting input from professors at universities in Texas.
    ProPublica, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025
  • At one point during the hearing, the Health secretary claimed that Black boys who receive the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine have a higher risk of autism, which has never been verified by scientists.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In the signature blue and black team hues, the apparel range will embody speed, precision and style whilst also meeting the physical and athletic demands for the drivers, engineers and pit crew.
    Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Building Inspirato And The American Dream From refugee to builder of global platforms, Payam Zamani embodies resilience and reinvention.
    Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The roots of my family tree are firmly established in the soil of Great Britain.
    Elizabeth Bass Parman, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Period-appropriate musical elements will help establish the nostalgic atmosphere.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Scallops are the dainty little detail that never goes out of style, and in fact, reinforces a decor piece’s nostalgic vibe.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Watch Thelma on Hulu Kinds of Kindness Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, this 2024 dark dramedy anthology is told across three loosely interwoven chapters, each exploring characters who take extraordinary measures to demonstrate their love to someone else.
    Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The Royals demonstrated patience and diligently worked favorable counts before landing the knockout blow.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 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
  • Regardless of where the fans stand, Williams likes to express himself in that way.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Canadian Pacific Kansas City de Mexico, the railway, expressed its condolences to the victims' families and called on drivers to respect road signs and stop orders at railroad crossings.
    Lizbeth Diaz, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Substantiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantiate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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