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 However, none of that has ever been verified by official sources, either from Cavill, Netflix or any others on the show's creative team. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025 In an email, the Missouri Board of Healing Arts and the state Board of Nursing, which oversee physicians and nurses respectively, said there is no requirement for state boards to verify collaborative practice agreements. Meg Cunningham, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025 According to the Kremlin, the missile traveled 8,700 miles in the test—a claim that could not be independently verified by the Associated Press. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025 When details couldn't be verified, NPR corroborated information with immigration experts, activists, and a developer for an app that documents confrontations with federal agents. Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for verify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verify
confirm
Verb
  • Sor Juana’s verses confirm that venturing into the dating pool is always like stepping into a dark abyss.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Trump has confirmed what could be one of the largest mobilization strategies for the party-- a 'midterm convention' ahead of the 2026 races.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Verify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verify. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on verify

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