authenticate

verb

ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkāt How to pronounce authenticate (audio)
Definition of authenticatenext
1
as in to certify
to declare (something) to be true or genuine a jeweler authenticated the diamond as real

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to verify
to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of we require more than simply your word to authenticate this story

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb authenticate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of authenticate are confirm, corroborate, substantiate, validate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

When might confirm be a better fit than authenticate?

While the synonyms confirm and authenticate 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 authenticate?

The words corroborate and authenticate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

In what contexts can substantiate take the place of authenticate?

The words substantiate and authenticate can be used in similar contexts, but substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

When is it sensible to use validate instead of authenticate?

While in some cases nearly identical to authenticate, validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When can verify be used instead of authenticate?

Although the words verify and authenticate have much in common, 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

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 authenticate Items have not been officially appraised, certified or authenticated unless indicated otherwise. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025 Ensure that devices and users are correctly identified and authenticated. —IEEE Spectrum, 7 Feb. 2025 Acquired some fifteen years ago from a private seller, the unsigned portrait—painted in Paris in 1906—was recently authenticated and published in the Modigliani archive of Rome. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 6 Feb. 2025 By preserving and authenticating the very snow that surrounded this monumental game, fans are offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with the playoff experience like never before. —Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for authenticate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authenticate
  1. certify
  2. verify
  3. guarantee
  4. confirm
  5. affirm
  6. attest
Verb
  • Kettle & Fire also pays to certify its broth is free of any residue from the herbicide glyphosate and proudly displays that fact on its label.
    — Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Agencies don’t have the forms to nominate officers and deputies, much less train and certify them.
    — Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of certify
Verb
  • There was no sanitizer measured in a three-compartment sink or in buckets with wipe cloths, and employees did not know how to properly verify the quantity of sanitizer using test strips.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Check road conditions: Before embarking on your journey, verify the current road conditions to make informed travel decisions.
    — Southern California Weather Report, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of verify
Verb
  • Tuesday, April 8, 2025 Deadline to apply for membership to guarantee voting eligibility for both rounds of the 77th Emmy competition and to secure member entry fee discount.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025
  • After three straight years of Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes dominating the tournament, a new champion is almost guaranteed to emerge.
    — Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of guarantee
Verb
  • The White House confirmed that Trump's letter to Iran's leaders is seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Billboard confirmed this and has reached out to Gaga’s representatives for further comment.
    — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of confirm
Verb
  • Cautious optimism grew earlier in the week as the twice-daily health updates affirmed that the pope was eating solid food, sitting up in his armchair, and even taking care of simple work tasks from the comfort of his hospital room.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Lee is appealing his conviction for election-law violations in 2022, and if two appellate courts affirm it, he will be barred from public office for 10 years.
    — Ian Bremmer, TIME, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of affirm
Verb
  • Robot backflips are becoming commonplace, but a front flip is significantly more difficult than a backflip, as any gymnast can attest.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Three successive passes in close proximity, which could have caused the drone to lose control, attesting to a desire to restrict free air movement in common areas.
    — Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of attest

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“Authenticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authenticate. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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