1
as in attesting
to declare (something) to be true or genuine
a notary public witnessing wills and other important documents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
witnessed the crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in testifying
to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact
I witnessed to the fact that I had seen them together that night
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it
war changes anyone who has ever witnessed it first hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of witnessing
Jackson reportedly became involved in the brawl after witnessing his friend being attacked.
—
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski connected the crowd calling for Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect, to set a murderer free instead of Jesus with today’s climate, where people are witnessing horrific acts and not always speaking up.
—Alie Skowronski, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
So the idea of witnessing a wedding and what that does to you internally birthed the idea of, okay, actually, a bunch of people are going to spontaneously bleed to death at this wedding.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
On the cusp of his 90th birthday, the dean of Bay Area jazz pianism shares music and some first-hand accounts witnessing Davis and Coltrane in action in San Francisco.
—Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2026
After visiting a College Track site and witnessing its impact firsthand back in 2017, Kevin made a 10-year, $10 million commitment to bring the program home to Prince George’s County.
—Wanda Durant, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers listened as Ramirez Sanan told of witnessing her mother, Hilda Ramirez Sanan, being thrown to the ground by ICE agents.
—Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Now, Vitello’s task is creating history in San Francisco, not just witnessing it.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
All three depict a group of women witnessing the end of Jesus’ life.
—Mary Foskett, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski connected the crowd calling for Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect, to set a murderer free instead of Jesus with today’s climate, where people are witnessing horrific acts and not always speaking up.
—Alie Skowronski, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
So the idea of witnessing a wedding and what that does to you internally birthed the idea of, okay, actually, a bunch of people are going to spontaneously bleed to death at this wedding.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
On the cusp of his 90th birthday, the dean of Bay Area jazz pianism shares music and some first-hand accounts witnessing Davis and Coltrane in action in San Francisco.
—Andrew Gilbert, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2026
After visiting a College Track site and witnessing its impact firsthand back in 2017, Kevin made a 10-year, $10 million commitment to bring the program home to Prince George’s County.
—Wanda Durant, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers listened as Ramirez Sanan told of witnessing her mother, Hilda Ramirez Sanan, being thrown to the ground by ICE agents.
—Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Now, Vitello’s task is creating history in San Francisco, not just witnessing it.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
All three depict a group of women witnessing the end of Jesus’ life.
—Mary Foskett, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for witnessing
Verb
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In the weeks that followed, a detailed account of a different captive’s story was read every Shabbat, attesting to a lingering collective grief.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Leo on Monday signed the decree attesting that Flanagan lived a life of heroic virtue.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Women suffering through the hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes and sleep problems that can come with menopause — all while looking in the mirror and noticing signs of aging — are being bombarded with products.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
But people in the capital began noticing.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The announcement led some to question whether Bondi’s ouster was in part an effort by the White House to keep her from testifying.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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Shideler is a regular guest on right-wing podcasts and cable-television programs, but this was his first time testifying as an expert in court.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The systemic review included 28 observational studies with more than 86,000 participants who were followed for at least one year after experiencing a minor stroke.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
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Activities include seeing the filming locations of Cast Away, which follows Hanks as a FedEx analyst who becomes stranded on a deserted island after his plane crashes, as well as a experiencing captain’s dinner.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The executive order Trump signed his first day back in office challenges the longstanding interpretation of a 19th century constitutional provision guaranteeing birthright citizenship to nearly everyone.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Senate, by that time, had already left Washington, guaranteeing an extended shutdown.—
Justin Papp,Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Whizzing by the moon up to 6,000 miles above the surface, the astronauts will also glimpse the celestial body's full disk, seeing sights that not even the Apollo astronauts witnessed.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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Being embedded meant slowing down, listening, and understanding the genealogy of the triennial itself—seeing HT25 not as a rupture, but as part of an ongoing continuum.—
Wassan Al-Khudhairi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bisexuality was undergoing one of its periodic upticks.—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
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New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto has been diagnosed with a right calf strain after undergoing an MRI on Saturday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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More recently, in a case from Tennessee, the Supreme Court ruled last year that states can ban gender affirming care for minors, including surgeries, puberty blockers and hormone treatments.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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What’s missing is a full-day, clinically robust, age-affirming program for older adults with mental health conditions, embedded within a continuum of care.—
Crystal Hudson,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Witnessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witnessing. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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