Definition of validatenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb validate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of validate are authenticate, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When might authenticate be a better fit than validate?

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

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

In what contexts can confirm take the place of validate?

While the synonyms confirm and validate are close in meaning, confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

When would corroborate be a good substitute for validate?

While in some cases nearly identical to validate, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

Where would substantiate be a reasonable alternative to validate?

The synonyms substantiate and validate are sometimes interchangeable, but substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

When is verify a more appropriate choice than validate?

The meanings of verify and validate largely overlap; 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 validate One player had claimed to have a relative still living in Eritrea and this led to the police driving out to a village in the countryside hours away and bringing that person back to Asmara to validate his status. Simon Hughes, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026 The nonprofits check providers’ enrollment with their licensed capacity, review thousands of monthly attendance sheets, validate signatures and verifications of employment and eligibility and compare providers’ rate sheets to invoices, among other things, McDougal said. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026 Human judgment can be reviewed by others—that’s an important role of legal processes—but it can rarely be validated under a legal microscope. Philip K. Howard, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026 Hill said Saturday's turnout was validating. Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for validate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for validate
Verb
  • Reviewing State Minimum Insurance Requirements In addition to personal insurance needs, owners should verify their state’s minimum liability requirements.
    Ethan M. Stone, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
  • After verifying player complaints, Wright contacted the league replay center to begin following protocol to potentially delay the game.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • However, that land proved to be insufficient for the expansion plans, prompting the purchase of an additional 900-acre lot.
    Dylan Butts,Emily Tan, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2026
  • In fact, Bella Hadid has repeat-worn the style with many off-duty looks, proving that the timeless silhouette adds an outfit-elevating touch.
    Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The board’s unanimous vote came weeks after pension-plan actuaries confirmed the program would be cost-neutral, as state law requires.
    Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Advocates have been at odds with the city for years over the state of their beloved shelter, prompting an audit that confirmed the validity of many of their concerns about mismanagement, operating over capacity and inadequate care.
    Devan Patel, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Auditing two departments Calvo plans to establish a task force to audit Hialeah’s 911 operations, responding tor concerns from dispatchers about understaffing and slow response times.
    Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Since the 1977 report, scores of other scientific studies involving thousands have clearly established a strong association between consumption of meat and dairy products and elevated incidences of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and certain types of cancer.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The new technology described in the study demonstrates the incredible potential of combining classic engineering principles (like the Tesla turbine) with modern materials science to address long-standing industrial challenges.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Earlier protests demonstrated many Iranians’ opposition to the theocracy’s hard-line ideology, its insistence on the hijab, its control of media and education, its general brutality.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Validate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/validate. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.

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