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 My PhD friend read the bios and listened to the interviews—his take didn’t necessarily select my official contender but helped validate my choice. Angela Hatem, Parents, 9 June 2026 Research has since validated what humans always knew intuitively. Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026 The goal is to validate the reactor's computational physics models, core geometry, control rod performance, and initial neutronic behavior without generating significant thermal energy or requiring active coolant flow. David Szondy june 08, New Atlas, 8 June 2026 New ideas can be tested, refined, and validated under extreme conditions before influencing future commercial products. James Morris, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for validate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for validate
Verb
  • Having a smart structure for AI verification is going to become increasingly critical as the technology performs more and more tasks, outpacing the ability of humans to verify all the work.
    Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 16 June 2026
  • International monitors verified that Iran was complying, and Iran was able to tap its oil wealth.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • The bill would prevent efforts like Trump’s executive order restricting mail-in ballots to voters who can prove citizenship.
    Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
  • The whole episode is a reminder to product designers everywhere that users can be extremely sensitive to the seemingly smallest changes — and Spotify clearly had not anticipated that a teeny-tiny disco ball drop would prove to be unpopular.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Steve Foulkes, a vice president for RCK, confirmed the land trust has the option to buy the site for $10 million by July 31.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
  • So, when West and Amanda confirmed it, I was stunned.
    Kate Aurthur, Variety, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Within days of being sworn in, Williams had established a civil rights division and hired Emily Maw, the former head of the Innocence Project New Orleans, to lead it.
    Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Washington is like a city under siege, with armed combat troops establishing federal checkpoints, with individuals being asked questions about their immigration status and then being arrested, with no evidence of a criminal violation and no evident crimes committed.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Lexi will also tell stories about her visits with Ammon's family, including some of the interactions that hilariously demonstrate their cultural divide.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Researchers demonstrated through simulations that multiple small quantum chips can be linked together into one functioning system even if the connections between them aren’t flawless.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Validate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/validate. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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