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 Free Press has compiled a list of victims and verified fundraisers in support of them and their families. Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025 The Arizona Republic was not able to verify the origin of the post. Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025 Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 Sep. 2025 This video has not been independently verified. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for verify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verify
confirm
Verb
  • The man, whose position CNN confirmed independently, said he could be arrested too, but that would not stop the business.
    Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin previously confirmed to PEOPLE that the men died after being struck by lightning.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Verify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verify. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on verify

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