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 The governor also asked the agency to substantiate the state’s belief that refineries can function profitably, while also blaming President Trump for the general market instability, Reuters reported. Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 3 May 2025 But their case during the retrial – the first ended with a hung jury – appeared more focused on sowing doubt in jurors’ minds about the quality of the investigation, rather than substantiating the theory of a third-party culprit. Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 11 June 2025 Velazquez rose through the ranks despite a slew of allegations against him that were never substantiated. Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025 If violations are substantiated, appropriate enforcement actions will be taken. Latoya Gayle, People.com, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for substantiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantiate
Verb
  • Kennedy’s actions are potentially deadly, and the CDC has the data to prove it.
    Michael A. Hiltzik, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
  • Meteorologists are losing a sophisticated tool that many say has proved invaluable when monitoring and forecasting hurricanes.
    Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • The notice says the department will check SNAP applicants against federal databases to verify eligibility, including checking immigration status and finding duplicate enrollments.
    Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 24 June 2025
  • Developing apparel made from more sustainable materials, setting company-wide climate targets verified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and enhancing traceability and social compliance programs are central to this strategy.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • For upland bird hunters, witnessing the mesmerizing poetry in motion embodied in the work of great dogs is the main attraction of the pursuit.
    Chris Dorsey, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • In April, Maryland became the first state in the nation to codify such universal screening into law, a breakthrough embodied in SB 0740, the SFC Matthew Fast Act.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • And the state Riley Act, also passed in 1933, required California local governments to establish a building department and inspect new construction.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
  • For this historic journey, Kipyegon utilized male pacers to help establish the pace of the race.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • Scaring a black bear can reinforce its natural fear of people and help keep it from lingering in neighborhoods and other areas where conflicts often arise.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 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
  • However, Charlie demonstrates an unexpected capacity for lethal action, using his intelligence and computer skills to orchestrate elaborate and unconventional methods of eliminating his enemies.
    Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • During the clip, Row's husband repeatedly demonstrated the simple action of placing the ball into the machine before it was thrown out of the other side.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
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
  • Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt both have dance backgrounds, and Affleck has long expressed her desire to appear on the ABC show.
    Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 1 July 2025
  • Textile executives sounded particularly cautious in expressing their views.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Substantiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantiate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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