substantiating 1 of 2

as in supporting
serving to give support to the truth or factualness of something without some substantiating evidence, such as a stub from a bus ticket, who's going to believe your alibi?

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substantiating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of substantiate
1
as in proving
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

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2
3
4
5
as in reinforcing
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

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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 substantiating
Verb
In his report, Prescott said there is evidence substantiating the claim that Rodriguez-Mendez was extorting Guaranda. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 There is no public evidence substantiating the rumors referenced in the online posts. Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026 The lawsuit claims that, in letters sent in April, the school district reported investigating the incidents and substantiating the events. Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026 Trump, without substantiating, claimed that the FBI actually ushered rioters inside the Capitol and that the individuals only pleaded guilty out of fear of getting harsher sentences. Chad De Guzman, Time, 8 June 2026 The minimum proof would be a letter from a physician explaining the condition and substantiating the claim. Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026 Because pain is so subjective—and because of the difficulty in substantiating conditions such as whiplash and soft-tissue damage—surgery had the benefit not just of running up the clinical expense of an accident but also of seeming to ratify its legitimacy. Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 Federal officials have declined to provide critical details substantiating their claim that an agent shot ICU nurse Alex Pretti in self-defense. Tricia Escobedo, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for substantiating
Adjective
  • The incredible supporting cast is made up entirely of old-hand character actors, promising but underknown newcomers, and comedy- or comedy-adjacent figures with passionate niche followings and Gumby-esque limbs.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 June 2026
  • Some went after Cashman, some after Boone, some after Steinbrenner’s son Hal, and some after Aaron Judge’s non-supporting cast.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Trump remains data-center booster amid bipartisan opposition The rapid expansion of data centers, which house networks and services for digital information and services, is proving to be the rare issue that cuts through party lines.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Under the convention the burden of proving that exclusion falls on the Fund, not the claimant, and Oman has three years to force the question in court.
    Charles Edward Gehrke, Fortune, 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
  • Smoke events leave residue behind; the guidelines include protocols for flushing spaces and verifying air quality once the event passes.
    Sissi Liu, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Savio is the only player to appear on both lists, embodying the unreliable nature of transfer valuations.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Cohen’s brand of comedy revolves around him embodying outlandish characters and then provoking a reaction from onlookers.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Most recently, the Los Padres National Forest issued an order, effective Friday night, establishing an emergency closure for the Monterey Ranger District.
    Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The expansion of settlements crisscrossing the West Bank threatened the hope of establishing a contiguous Palestinian state there.
    David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • These funds have been vital for reinforcing vulnerable coastal infrastructure against severe weather, addressing deferred maintenance, and ensuring the long-term preservation of key visitor-facing structures.
    Lulu Vilas, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Micron , Broadcom , Synopsys and Cadence Design also appeared on the sympathy list, reinforcing how Nvidia has become a read-through for companies across the chip space.
    Nick Wells, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Flat oil prices and slightly lower bond yields were certainly supportive of the tech rally.
    Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Across all categories, the beds deserve special mention—exceptionally comfortable, with soft bedding and supportive pillows that punch well above the price point.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The next milestone will be moving beyond individual production lines and demonstrating that waste plastic-to-SAF systems can operate reliably, economically and at a scale to become a meaningful source of aviation fuel.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • McKenzie Wilson of Blue Rose Research, a Democratic data firm, said voters have called for sweeping changes in response to economic discontent, demonstrating a level of anger not seen in years.
    Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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