Synonym Chooser

How does the verb validate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of validate are authenticate, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When might authenticate be a better fit than validate?

Although the words authenticate and validate have much in common, authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

In what contexts can confirm take the place of validate?

While the synonyms confirm and validate are close in meaning, confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

When would corroborate be a good substitute for validate?

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

witnesses corroborated his story

Where would substantiate be a reasonable alternative to validate?

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

the claims have yet to be substantiated

When is verify a more appropriate choice than validate?

The meanings of verify and validate largely overlap; 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

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 validate The first three groups of 73 migrants transferred there in October, November and January spent only a few hours in Albania and were returned to Italy after Italian magistrates refused to validate their detention in the non-EU country. Erion Xhabafti, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025 There’s no resemblance to how decisions get made, validated, backed up by numbers that are given by multiple divisions. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025 And yet, the Supreme Court hardly validated the Trump Administration’s position. Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025 This recognition validates the passion, innovation, creativity and hard work that go into every fall, fight, and fireball. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for validate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for validate
Verb
  • But now, the SSA is changing that policy, which a White House official told CBS MoneyWatch is due to the rollout of anti-fraud software that will be able to identify anomalies and flag potential fraud when people verify their identities over the phones.
    Anne Marie Drummond Lee, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Applicants must personally provide, at minimum, documents that verify their full legal names, birthdays, Social Security numbers, legal residence and lawful status.
    Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Jarred Kelenic, picked up in trade from the Seattle Mariners in the 2023-2024 offseason, has proven to be a liability as well, starting the season with an anemic slash line of .146./.239/.244.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Naysayers insisted that increasing content costs would match the company’s rapid topline and subscriber growth, and profits would prove illusory.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • An official familiar with the matter confirmed to ABC News that days after Vance's visit, Col. Sussanah Meyers wrote an email to base personnel that distanced the base from some of the vice president's comments about Denmark, of which Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory.
    Luis Martinez, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • He was pronounced dead by a physician at 6:05 p.m., the South Carolina Department of Corrections confirmed to CBS News.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • With the rules well established by the club surrounding ownership of Augusta National’s rye green blazers, there’s little chance a Masters green jacket will permanently leave the golf course grounds ever again.
    Larry Holder, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • When racial segregation was officially banned, White Americans established private swim clubs that required members to pay a fee that wasn’t always affordable.
    Cara Anthony, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The installers will typically walk the homeowner through the basics and demonstrate how the sprinkler system operates.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Palantir is demonstrating leadership in the artificial intelligence software platform space and has the top- and bottom-line growth track record to prove it.
    Todd Gordon, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Validate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/validate. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on validate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!