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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb substantiate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of substantiate are authenticate, confirm, corroborate, validate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

When is authenticate a more appropriate choice than substantiate?

Although the words authenticate and substantiate have much in common, 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 substantiate?

The meanings of confirm and substantiate largely overlap; however, confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

In what contexts can corroborate take the place of substantiate?

While the synonyms corroborate and substantiate are close in meaning, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

When could validate be used to replace substantiate?

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

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When would verify be a good substitute for substantiate?

The words verify and substantiate can be used in similar contexts, but 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 substantiate Nearly two weeks after the incident took place, the WNBA said Tuesday that the league could not substantiate the claims made against fans in attendance at the game despite the uproar the investigation caused on social media. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025 The Willow Smith rumors that surfaced last year have never been substantiated in any way, and Smith seemingly has no reason to testify in the trial. Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 23 May 2025 Image Image Despite investigations by the Department of Justice, the F.B.I. and the E.P.A.’s acting inspector general, no evidence of waste or fraud has materialized to substantiate Mr. Zeldin’s concerns. Claire Brown, New York Times, 17 May 2025 But Department of Social Services regulators have substantiated a host of other violations in recent years and ordered the facility to implement corrective actions, records show. Jeff McDonald, Mercury News, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for substantiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantiate
Verb
  • Venter said there was no evidence to prove that covid-19 had been manipulated in a lab, nor was there any indication the virus had been spreading before December 2019 anywhere outside of China.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2025
  • McVey is also an undefeated prospect who has proven to be a KO artist.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • The confusion highlights the difficulty of verifying information on social media.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
  • Developing apparel made from more sustainable materials, setting company-wide climate targets verified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and enhancing traceability and social compliance programs are central to this strategy.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • For upland bird hunters, witnessing the mesmerizing poetry in motion embodied in the work of great dogs is the main attraction of the pursuit.
    Chris Dorsey, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Through the launch of Pyrex Vision, Off-White, and his later appointment at Louis Vuitton, Givhan urges readers to engage with the many facets that embodied Virgil, the designer who was also an adept listener, watcher, and one of the most compelling figures to ever exist in the fashion industry.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • And the state Riley Act, also passed in 1933, required California local governments to establish a building department and inspect new construction.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
  • For this historic journey, Kipyegon utilized male pacers to help establish the pace of the race.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • The goal isn’t to separate the machine from the workforce, but to build an inclusive system where the two operate together, reinforcing each other’s strengths.
    Priya Vijayarajendran, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Scaring a black bear can reinforce its natural fear of people and help keep it from lingering in neighborhoods and other areas where conflicts often arise.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Others demonstrated against the treatment of migrants.
    Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 30 June 2025
  • Huge crowds and great joy demonstrated how proud South Florida is of its hockey team.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • For a time, Cruz would let women know about misoprostol—how to procure and take it—and support them through the process while the doctor would provide consultations and follow-up care to those who needed it, such as an ultrasound to confirm gestation or monitoring of heavy bleeding.
    Rebecca Grant June 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
  • This weekend, the woman was confirmed as the man’s partner, 28-year-old Russian national Anastasia Trofimova (who is not the documentarian of the same name), and the child, their 11-month-old daughter Andromeda.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • On a broader scale, legislators have expressed frustration for years about high prices — whether for a new college graduate seeking an affordable apartment or for a young family trying to afford a pricier suburb with good schools like West Hartford or Glastonbury.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2025
  • Ambassadors from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait on Saturday met with Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to express concerns about the consequences of a U.S. attack.
    Colin Meyn, The Hill, 22 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Substantiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/substantiate. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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