1
as in to prove
to gain full recognition or acceptance of
substantiated his claim to local mountaineering fame with a photo of himself on the summit of Mount McKinley
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to verify
to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of
Mr. MacGregor couldn't substantiate that it was Peter, and not some other rabbit, in the cabbage patch
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to embody
to represent in visible form
the artist's intense feelings are substantiated by his paintings' bold colors and broad brush strokes
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to establish
to show the existence or truth of by evidence
substantiate the need for a tuition increase with some concrete figures
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea)
Darwin spent the rest of his life gathering evidence to substantiate his theory of the origin of species
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of substantiate
Child welfare services substantiated the accusation.
—
Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
But records show state licensing agents have substantiated six separate violations against the Polinsky Children’s Center since 2023, including one case in which a child was struck by an adult.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
The party that requested Form W-9 is required to keep it on file in case of a discrepancy or reporting issue, and to confirm or substantiate backup withholding.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
This investigation follows one earlier this year, also conducted by a third-party investigator; that investigation did not substantiate other claims raised against the head coach.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substantiate
Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
But records show state licensing agents have substantiated six separate violations against the Polinsky Children’s Center since 2023, including one case in which a child was struck by an adult.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
The party that requested Form W-9 is required to keep it on file in case of a discrepancy or reporting issue, and to confirm or substantiate backup withholding.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
This investigation follows one earlier this year, also conducted by a third-party investigator; that investigation did not substantiate other claims raised against the head coach.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for substantiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantiate
Verb
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Whereas criminal suspects in this past may have been incriminated by a Google query on, say, how to clean up bloodstains, a more comprehensive, detailed back-and-forth with a tool like ChatGPT gives investigators far more opportunities to prove intent and mindset, Lee explains.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2025
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After all, even repeating the consensus of the time is far from a surefire way of looking clever in 25 years, because various elements of the sport where there was a broad agreement about the direction of travel have proved misguided.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Christiaan Triebert is a Times reporter working on the Visual Investigations team, a group that combines traditional reporting with digital sleuthing and analysis of visual evidence to verify and source facts from around the world.—
Danny Makki,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After a 15-year absence, the Virginia duo delivered a masterclass buoyed by Pharrell production that embodied their classic sound for a new era.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
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Santa Maria Novella fragrances embody an ethereal, minimalist luxury where every note feels intentional, and that same refined simplicity carries through to their classic candles.—
Michael Stefanov,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Protect the football, establish balance early, and reduce penalties.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
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Democrats in Congress are withholding their votes on a government spending bill to demand that Republicans extend these subsidies, which lower the cost of insurance for people who buy their own health care coverage in marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.—
Elena Shao,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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The results reinforce what many pediatric specialists have long suspected—that too much screen exposure in early childhood may disrupt normal brain development.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Barbabella wrote in April that after conducting a comprehensive diagnostic, laboratory testing, consultations with 14 specialty consultants, the president demonstrated no abnormalities aside from minor sun damage, recommending a colonoscopy in 2027.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Oct. 2025
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These artifacts further suggest a ritual use, and the entire complex demonstrates the integration of cosmology, agriculture, and worship in ancient Mesopotamian societies.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In response to a Star inquiry, the State Department confirmed Arrington’s role in obtaining the replica and described the former director as helpful and knowledgeable.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
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The legendary, beloved actress has died at 79, it was confirmed on Saturday.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Others have expressed their frustration at how Collinsworth seems to be over-the-top with his accolades for Mahomes.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
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Community members expressed their emotions in the aftermath of the shooting.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Substantiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantiate. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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