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
This is partly why witnessing this cosmic phenomenon is so special.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
DarkSky International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the night sky, has identified some of the best spots for witnessing the wonders of the cosmos across the island country.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
The younger Ennis recalls witnessing from an early age the discipline and determination required to compete at the highest level.
—Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
During a conversation with Entertainment Weekly's Awardist podcast, the Frankenstein star reflects on the infamous bathtub scene in Emerald Fennell's 2023 thriller, which saw Oliver (Barry Keoghan) slurp up bathwater after secretly witnessing Felix (Elordi) masturbate in the tub.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Perhaps witnessing that transformation strengthens its usefulness to others.
—Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Now, Newsom is witnessing firsthand the negative impacts of his administration’s actions as two companies that refine gasoline in California are shuttering operations.
—Will Oneill, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025
His wife rode the storm out in Jamaica, witnessing firsthand the widespread destruction.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
The two-time inductee into WWE's Hall of Fame threw his headset down after witnessing the outcome.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
DarkSky International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the night sky, has identified some of the best spots for witnessing the wonders of the cosmos across the island country.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
The younger Ennis recalls witnessing from an early age the discipline and determination required to compete at the highest level.
—Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
During a conversation with Entertainment Weekly's Awardist podcast, the Frankenstein star reflects on the infamous bathtub scene in Emerald Fennell's 2023 thriller, which saw Oliver (Barry Keoghan) slurp up bathwater after secretly witnessing Felix (Elordi) masturbate in the tub.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Perhaps witnessing that transformation strengthens its usefulness to others.
—Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Now, Newsom is witnessing firsthand the negative impacts of his administration’s actions as two companies that refine gasoline in California are shuttering operations.
—Will Oneill, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025
His wife rode the storm out in Jamaica, witnessing firsthand the widespread destruction.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
The two-time inductee into WWE's Hall of Fame threw his headset down after witnessing the outcome.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for witnessing
Verb
-
Black residents had to register with the county clerk within two years of arriving in Ohio, pay a fee of 12 1/2 cents, and obtain a court order attesting to their being free.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
One accomplice in the scheme was a 74-year-old man from Rhineland-Palatinate who produced counterfeit expert reports attesting to the authenticity of the forgeries, investigators say.—
NPR,
NPR,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Or noticing that your hands feel inexplicably stiff and swollen, making simple tasks like opening a jar or even typing feel unusually difficult.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The second witness went inside for safety, then re-emerged, noticing the brothers were fighting, court records state.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
PAs testifying in support of the bill also argued the changes would give them parity with nurse practitioners, keeping them competitive in the workforce.—
Jessie Opoien,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Starting April 1, 1807, Black people in Ohio were barred from testifying in any case, civil or criminal, in which one of the parties was white.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Weak shaking has been recorded and several residents reported experiencing the tremor in Ridgecrest and the surrounding area according to the USGS DYFI report.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Additionally, people with IBS and IBD are more sensitive to changes in fiber in their diet and may already be experiencing constipation and/or diarrhea, which are common side effects of juice cleanses.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For example, as part of its agreement with OpenAI, Nvidia has reportedly discussed guaranteeing loans the startup would use to build its own data centers—a move that could leave the chipmaker on the hook for billions in debt if OpenAI can’t repay.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Eight weeks into the 2025 college football season, a number of coaches have been fired with clauses in their contracts guaranteeing them more than $150 million combined to stay away from their former team’s sidelines.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
What airports are seeing flight cancellations?—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Polls show that economic impacts are driving the voting bloc the most and Latino businesses across the country, from Miami to Los Angeles, are seeing a drop in foot traffic because of ICE agents targeting their communities.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
To demonstrate the system’s capabilities, the research team, led by Huang Jiangtao of the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre, applied PADJ-X to conceptual configurations resembling the US Air Force’s B-21 stealth bomber, which is currently undergoing flight testing.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The throne eventually made its way to Axl Rose, who used it on tour with Guns N’ Roses, and later Old Dominion frontman Matthew Ramsey, who used it in 2019 after undergoing surgery on his leg.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Book blogs mourned my loss, a distinction that was both affirming and heartrending.—
Kenneth Turan,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention recently released new guidance on moving upstream, affirming the importance of connection, belonging, economic stability, and community-level protective factors.—
Scott LoMurray,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Witnessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witnessing. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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