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
After all, there's no substitute for witnessing a meteor in real time.
—
Jamie Carter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
During the mission, the crew flew farther into space than past lunar explorers, capturing rare views of the moon's far side and witnessing a total solar eclipse.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Co-created with local parents and their young children, the show explores the joys and impermanence of raising children, carrying children through life and witnessing a child’s journey.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
The clip concludes with Peter witnessing MJ kissing a new guy.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2026
Sandy Siegel Sherman Oaks After witnessing their first-round victory in person, the UCLA women looked ready to make a run in the NCAA tournament.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
The new season follows a young couple whose lives spiral after witnessing a fight between their boss and his wife.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
And now, witnessing a growing interest in culinary learning, educators are flexing their own creativity in class topics and themes.
—Nicole Schnitzler, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Over the course of several hours, the crew will see and study the moon from as close as 4,070 miles from its surface, witnessing parts of the far side for the first time with human eyes, targeting about 35 lunar sites for lunar observation and snapping thousands of photographs.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 6 Apr. 2026
Jamie Carter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
During the mission, the crew flew farther into space than past lunar explorers, capturing rare views of the moon's far side and witnessing a total solar eclipse.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Co-created with local parents and their young children, the show explores the joys and impermanence of raising children, carrying children through life and witnessing a child’s journey.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
The clip concludes with Peter witnessing MJ kissing a new guy.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2026
Sandy Siegel Sherman Oaks After witnessing their first-round victory in person, the UCLA women looked ready to make a run in the NCAA tournament.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
The new season follows a young couple whose lives spiral after witnessing a fight between their boss and his wife.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Apr. 2026
And now, witnessing a growing interest in culinary learning, educators are flexing their own creativity in class topics and themes.
—Nicole Schnitzler, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Over the course of several hours, the crew will see and study the moon from as close as 4,070 miles from its surface, witnessing parts of the far side for the first time with human eyes, targeting about 35 lunar sites for lunar observation and snapping thousands of photographs.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 6 Apr. 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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The difference between counting down the minutes and barely noticing the time often comes down to what’s in your carry-on.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
-
For someone noticing early volume loss or fine lines, that endorsement from a Mayo Clinic dermatologist carries real weight.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ranger drives with Horner to look for Athena The video of the interview at the Sheriff’s Office concluded and Ranger Espinoza is testifying again.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The judge also found that Madigan lied repeatedly and willfully when testifying in his own defense during the trial.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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About a decade ago, however, the city of New Orleans began experiencing accidents involving eighteen-wheelers with a frequency that was anomalous—and alarming.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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This small Buddhist kingdom in the eastern Himalayas between China and India is experiencing growth in tourism after opening to international visitors only 50 years ago.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Iran has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guaranteeing the right to transit passage, however, which complicates the legal questions.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Norwich offered a seven-year deal, guaranteeing a year as a professional player.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Public school districts in Texas are almost one school year into the first statewide cellphone ban, and a North Texas school district is seeing positive impacts.—
Lacey Beasley,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Why more Sacramento residents are seeking evaluation As public awareness changes, individuals who were formerly written off as chaotic, fragile, strange or unstable are now seeing those outdated stories from a contemporary perspective.—
Malana VanTyler,
Sacbee.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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From Cape Coral to Kansas City, America’s housing market is undergoing a historic reversion to the mean—and the data couldn’t be more striking.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
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The county has exempted the project from undergoing a state environmental review — a point of contention for many residents who are concerned about the health and environmental impacts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Children's Hospital Colorado CBS The hospital says the gender affirming drugs to delay puberty are also used to treat cisgender patients, pushing the Colorado Supreme Court to ask if that could be considered a form of discrimination.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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At Tuesday’s oral arguments, Paula Greisen, representing the families who sued, said Eckhart made a mistake by balancing the number of transgender children harmed by stopping gender-affirming care against all Colorado children who could face harm if the hospital lost funding.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Witnessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witnessing. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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