Synonym Chooser

How does the verb confirm contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of confirm are authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

When is authenticate a more appropriate choice than confirm?

While the synonyms authenticate and confirm are close in meaning, authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

When is it sensible to use corroborate instead of confirm?

While in some cases nearly identical to confirm, corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

When could substantiate be used to replace confirm?

The synonyms substantiate and confirm are sometimes interchangeable, but substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

In what contexts can validate take the place of confirm?

The meanings of validate and confirm largely overlap; however, validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When would verify be a good substitute for confirm?

In some situations, the words verify and confirm are roughly equivalent. However, 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

Examples 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 confirm Yoon, South Korea’s first sitting president to be arrested, has also been suspended from his presidential duties as the Constitutional Court decides whether to confirm his impeachment motion, which was passed by the legislature in late December. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025 More research is needed to confirm spearmint's potential use as a testosterone-lowering treatment. Jillian Kubala, Health, 19 Jan. 2025 You may be asked to confirm your decision by clicking Yes. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 19 Jan. 2025 The White later confirmed the event would be rescheduled for next week at the White House to accommodate additional attendees. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for confirm 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confirm
Verb
  • On Blind, an anonymous messaging app that requires users to verify their employment before viewing company-specific posts, users mocked the video.
    Zoë Schiffer, WIRED, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Douglas County investigators verified the DNA results linking Jefferson to the scene through an outside lab, but they were now faced with Woods’ actions tainting their lynchpin piece of evidence, Brauchler said.
    Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Focolare History The Focolare Movement, founded by Italian schoolteacher Chiara Lubich in the 1940s, was approved by the Catholic Church in the 1960s.
    Lisa Ling, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The Aurora City Council voted around that time last year to approve an agreement with the IEPA for the forgivable loan, which was required before the city could start accepting bids from companies for the project.
    R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • On Wednesday, Medina pleaded for leniency, with his lawyer Joseph Veith arguing that his client returned to his old habits of fraud on 2023 after seven years staying out of trouble because of his gambling addiction and mental illness.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Roe argued in his filing that he was allowed to legally have the gun, saying that the state of Kansas — where he was convicted — automatically restores a felon’s right to possess a firearm five years after conviction or release from imprisonment for that offense.
    Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • So in 1933, the 20th Amendment was ratified, changing Inauguration Day to Jan. 20 and the first session of the new Congress to Jan. 3.
    Chantelle Lee, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Inaugurations used to be held in March until the 20th Amendment was ratified in 1933, stating that the president's term began at noon on Jan. 20.
    Max Golembo, ABC News, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Only one company, Layfield Group — which had installed the cover in 2012 — turned in a bid, and the contract was finalized Nov. 21 for about $130,000.
    Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Importers, who finalized their 2025 orders in October 2024, risk paying tariffs on shipments in transit should duties be imposed mid-shipment.
    Jessica Dupuy, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • That gets answered easily, because there is always a Producer – the same person who should be accepting the Oscar for Best Picture should the movie win that accolade.
    Cathy Schulman, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2025
  • In accepting her trophy, Satter talked a lot about family, both at the Institute and her own.
    Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near confirm

Cite this Entry

“Confirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confirm. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on confirm

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