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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
In his report, Prescott said there is evidence substantiating the claim that Rodriguez-Mendez was extorting Guaranda. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 There is no public evidence substantiating the rumors referenced in the online posts. Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026 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
  • But on May 1, 1960, just four years after the U-2’s debut, the Soviet miliary shot down one of the planes, flown by Francis Gary Powers, proving that the US underestimated Soviet capabilities.
    Emma Balleste, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • McHale found that Washington is likely to succeed in proving its claims that Kalshi violated state laws on gambling and consumer protection.
    Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • During a visit to Ituri last month, Congo’s Health Minister Roger Kamba said the government is verifying a list of those working to control the outbreak, as names of some doing unrelated work have been added to the payroll.
    Prosper Heri Ngorora, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This misalignment demands regulators focus on limiting AI access and independently verifying work, rather than just monitoring for malicious intent.
    Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Franchise-wise, Armani Beauty has Privè, with unisex couture fragrances; Giorgio Armani, which is premium, and Emporio Armani, embodying the brand’s younger, urban facet.
    Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The company and its surveillance devices have become a lightning rod for anxieties around surveillance in the US, embodying concerns about privacy, tech industry oversight, and police abuse of power all in one public gadget.
    Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Taken together, Ukraine is seeking to field autonomous systems that are cheap, effective, and easy to use, while establishing clear benchmarks to measure their performance.
    David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • When possible, avoid establishing a new lawn in the heat of summer.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The grants help pay for home improvements like upgrading roof coverings, retrofitting doors and windows, and reinforcing connections between walls and roofs.
    Jaclyn de Medicci Bruneau, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Over the years, Vizard has watched visitors come to the farm to admire the birds, reinforcing her belief that the farm should continue to be used as an open space.
    Tran Chau, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Following the shooting, officers were seen investigating inside the Lawson House, a former YMCA that provides supportive housing to the unhoused.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Teens often describe chatbot interactions as emotionally meaningful or supportive, sometimes even preferring chatbot conversations to talking with friends.
    Megan Kelly, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Its technical documentation is being shared with other African countries, demonstrating how battery storage can stabilize fragile grids against future climate impacts.
    Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Over 100 landowners have denied power company surveyors access to their property, again demonstrating Maryland’s tenacity against harmful development which, frankly, no one asked for.
    Adrianne Fantasia, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Substantiating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantiating. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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