Definition of corroboratenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb corroborate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of corroborate are authenticate, confirm, substantiate, validate, and verify. While all these words mean "to attest to the truth or validity of something," corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

When is it sensible to use authenticate instead of corroborate?

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

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

Where would confirm be a reasonable alternative to corroborate?

The synonyms confirm and corroborate are sometimes interchangeable, but confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

When is substantiate a more appropriate choice than corroborate?

The meanings of substantiate and corroborate largely overlap; however, 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 corroborate?

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

validated the hypothesis by experiments

When could verify be used to replace corroborate?

In some situations, the words verify and corroborate 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

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 corroborate The lawyer questioned why investigators failed to conduct follow-up interviews to try to corroborate what Davis told them. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2026 The board did not interview any witnesses or introduce records that could corroborate Orndorff’s account. Molly Hensley-Clancy, ProPublica, 13 Aug. 2026 TeamPCP, a ramshackle but extremely capable gang largely made up of teenagers, took credit for the attack, and researchers have largely corroborated the claim. ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026 The company says the output must be corroborated through ordinary investigative methods. Nicole M. Bennett, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for corroborate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corroborate
Verb
  • Check the requirement, confirm the route, draft the plan, or ask one better question.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Although an exact date has yet to be confirmed, readers can expect the Nike Ja 4 Halloween to be released in October for a retail price of $145 in adult sizing and $125 for grade school sizes.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The look also pulls from indie sleaze, which Trendalytics reports is up 80% in social buzz, reinforcing the messy, early-2000s finish that defines the trend.
    Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Both formulas pair moisture-drawing glycerin with pea peptide and a trio of ceramides to condition and reinforce dry, stressed hair.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Meta is also promising to do a better job of verifying users' ages and has agreed to report regularly to an independent auditor.
    Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Similar efforts to make quantum hardware more resilient include quantum chips designed to verify their own hardware, showing how reliability is becoming a problem that researchers are tackling at several levels.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • While some of the color contrasts do articulate planar shifts, such as the candy-stripe lips (red for upper, pink for lower), many of the touches are arbitrary splotches that neither bolster a shape nor set another off.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Merida's experimental biologic drugs target autoimmune diseases such as Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease and should bolster Lilly's efforts in immunology.
    Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Some officials argue that would let Iceland keep control of its waters, since no EU country has fished there for decades.
    Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
  • While that figure was low, the researchers argued that even a small risk of unintended weapons use could be unacceptable in sensitive maritime confrontations.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Comfort and style aren’t oxymorons, and these pants prove it.
    Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Expressing positive sentiment, such as appreciation, also proved more effective than neutral or negative tones.
    Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Corroborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corroborate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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