substantiating 1 of 2

as in supporting
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something without some substantiating evidence, such as a stub from a bus ticket, who's going to believe your alibi?

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substantiating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of substantiate
1
as in proving
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

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2
3
4
5
as in reinforcing
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

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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 substantiating
Verb
The lawsuit claims that, in letters sent in April, the school district reported investigating the incidents and substantiating the events. Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026 Trump, without substantiating, claimed that the FBI actually ushered rioters inside the Capitol and that the individuals only pleaded guilty out of fear of getting harsher sentences. Chad De Guzman, Time, 8 June 2026 The minimum proof would be a letter from a physician explaining the condition and substantiating the claim. Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026 Because pain is so subjective—and because of the difficulty in substantiating conditions such as whiplash and soft-tissue damage—surgery had the benefit not just of running up the clinical expense of an accident but also of seeming to ratify its legitimacy. Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 Federal officials have declined to provide critical details substantiating their claim that an agent shot ICU nurse Alex Pretti in self-defense. Tricia Escobedo, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantiating
Adjective
  • The incredible supporting cast is made up entirely of old-hand character actors, promising but underknown newcomers, and comedy- or comedy-adjacent figures with passionate niche followings and Gumby-esque limbs.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 June 2026
  • Some went after Cashman, some after Boone, some after Steinbrenner’s son Hal, and some after Aaron Judge’s non-supporting cast.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As the community continues to grow, Crabby Baddies is proving that the strongest catch of the day may be the connections made along the pier.
    Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • Even celebrities like Nicole Kidman have been spotted embracing this luxe trend, proving its status as a sleek alternative to chunky athletic shoes that feel heavy and overly bulky on the move.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • If a debt collector reaches out, start by verifying the debt, understanding which benefits are protected and learning your rights under federal law.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 22 June 2026
  • This shift makes verifying human presence and agent accountability the new bottleneck, rather than just AI intelligence.
    Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, continues to defy time at the World Cup, embodying the finite nature of elite careers.
    Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • Torch Song by Alison Saar was inspired by the Statue of Liberty but given a more Chicago flair by embodying the spirit of the city's blues heritage.
    Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Netanyahu said that Israel is allowing the Lebanese army to begin preparing to take control of territory, while the Israeli military is establishing two pilot zones.
    Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • The Gateway space station planned for lunar orbit was also canceled in favor of a stronger focus on establishing a base on the moon's surface.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Japan is also expanding drone capabilities, upgrading air power with F-35s and next-generation fighters, and reinforcing its Southwest Islands with military assets.
    Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • In addition to reinforcing graphic-design tropes, Claude Design tends to direct all of its users toward the same libraries of open-source code, the tools behind user-interface design.
    Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • El Niño has also been globally supportive for soybean output, particularly for major producers in the US and the south of Brazil, UBS analysts said.
    Bloomberg, Fortune, 21 June 2026
  • Fox estimated that Connecticut, which is in the process of applying for federal funding, will lose around $30 million in resources and 2,000 permanent supportive housing slots.
    Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • To prevail in a habeas petition, Maxwell would need to show that serious constitutional violations occurred during her trial or sentencing, or that significant new evidence has emerged demonstrating her innocence.
    James Hill, ABC News, 24 June 2026
  • The couple spent their weekend at the Royal Castle of Ciergnon, demonstrating the close relationship between the Japanese and Belgian royal families.
    Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Substantiating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantiating. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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