Synonym Chooser

How does the verb verify contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of verify are authenticate, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, and validate. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," 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

When is it sensible to use authenticate instead of verify?

The meanings of authenticate and verify largely overlap; however, authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

When could confirm be used to replace verify?

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

confirmed the reports

Where would corroborate be a reasonable alternative to verify?

Although the words corroborate and verify have much in common, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

When might substantiate be a better fit than verify?

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

the claims have yet to be substantiated

In what contexts can validate take the place of verify?

The words validate and verify can be used in similar contexts, but validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

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 verify The Norfolk Medical Examiner’s Office verified on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 10, that Resendiz’s body had been positively identified. Jillian Frankel, People.com, 10 June 2025 An online dashboard in development will verify where commodities come from before they’re exported. Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 10 June 2025 However, the researchers could not verify that drinking milk lowered blood pressure.17 More research is needed to determine if skim milk can reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension. Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 9 June 2025 Who verified the authenticity of such serious accusations? Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for verify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verify
confirm
Verb
  • Iranian state media confirmed later that General Hossein Salami, head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was killed in the strikes, along with at least four senior officials.
    Sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
  • The band confirmed the news on its social media accounts.
    August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Verify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verify. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on verify

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