substantiate

1 of 2

verb

sub·​stan·​ti·​ate səb-ˈstan(t)-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce substantiate (audio)
substantiated; substantiating
Synonyms of substantiate

transitive verb

1
: to give substance or form to : embody
2
: to establish by proof or competent evidence : verify
substantiate a charge
substantiation
səb-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce substantiate (audio)
noun
substantiative
səb-ˈstan(t)-shē-ˌā-tiv How to pronounce substantiate (audio)
adjective

substantiation

2 of 2

noun

sub·​stan·​ti·​a·​tion
plural -s
1
: an act of substantiating (as by proving)
2
: something adduced as proof : evidence
substantiative
⸗ˈ⸗⸗ˌātiv How to pronounce substantiation (audio)
chiefly substandard ⸗ˈ⸗⸗ˌwā-
adjective

Synonyms of substantiate

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Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for substantiate

confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify, authenticate, validate 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

corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

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

authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

Examples of substantiate in a Sentence

Verb substantiated his claim to local mountaineering fame with a photo of himself on the summit of Mount McKinley Mr. MacGregor couldn't substantiate that it was Peter, and not some other rabbit, in the cabbage patch.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
The department will move to terminate him if the claims are substantiated, the spokesperson said. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026 In his report, Prescott said there is evidence substantiating the claim that Rodriguez-Mendez was extorting Guaranda. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 For Elhawary, these unintended consequences of the 2024 legislation — substantiated only anecdotally, without concrete data — necessitated her new bill. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026 However, the newspaper could find no evidence to substantiate those claims. — Inaya Folarin Iman, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for substantiate

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of substantiate was in 1610

Rhymes for substantiate

See All Rhymes for substantiate

Browse Nearby Words

substantia nigra
substantiate
substantiation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Substantiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substantiate. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

substantiate

verb
sub·​stan·​ti·​ate səb-ˈstan-chē-ˌāt How to pronounce substantiate (audio)
substantiated; substantiating
1
: to give substance or form to : embody
2
: to establish by proof or evidence
substantiate a claim
substantiation
-ˌstan-chē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce substantiate (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on substantiate

Nglish: Translation of substantiate for Spanish Speakers

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