Substantiate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /səb-ˈstan(t)-shē-ˌāt/ sub·stan·ti·ate

Meaning & Definition of Substantiate

Substantiate (verb)

  1. to give substance or form to, embody
  2. to establish by proof or competent evidence, verify

Substantiate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: demonstrate, establish, prove, show
    related: attest, authenticate, bear out, document, evidence, support, sustain, uphold, confirm, corroborate, justify, validate, verify
    opposite: disprove
    near: confute, discredit, invalidate, rebut, refute

  2. to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of

    "Mr. MacGregor couldn't substantiate that it was Peter, and not some other rabbit, in the cabbage patch"

    similar: argue, attest, authenticate, bear out, certify, confirm, corroborate, support, validate, verify, vindicate
    related: avouch, back (up), testify (to), vouch (for), witness, guarantee, warrant, affirm, assert, aver, avow, declare, profess, demonstrate, document, establish, prove, reinforce
    opposite: disprove, rebut, refute
    near: contradict, gainsay, deny, disavow, disclaim, challenge, contest, dispute, question

  3. to represent in visible form

    "the artist's intense feelings are substantiated by his paintings' bold colors and broad brush strokes"

    similar: body, embody, epitomize, express, externalize, incarnate, incorporate, instantiate, manifest, materialize, personalize, personify
    related: actualize, concretize, realize, exemplify, illustrate, image, objectify, symbolize, typify

  4. to show the existence or truth of by evidence

    "substantiate the need for a tuition increase with some concrete figures"

    similar: demonstrate, document, establish, prove, validate
    related: back (up), buttress, circumstantiate, corroborate, evidence, evince, record, support, uphold, witness, adduce, attest, authenticate, certify, identify, confirm, sustain, verify, vouch, clinch, nail, settle, confess, depose, testify
    opposite: disprove, rebut, refute
    near: challenge, dispute, object, allege, assume, conjecture, guess, presume, surmise, suspect

  5. 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"

    similar: back, bolster, buttress, corroborate, reinforce, shore (up), support
    related: confirm, establish, prove, verify, affirm, avouch, validate
    near: undercut, undermine, weaken

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Substantiate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Substantiate:

demonstrate, establish, prove, show, argue, attest, authenticate, bear out, certify, confirm, corroborate, support, validate, verify, vindicate, body, embody, epitomize, express, externalize, incarnate, incorporate, instantiate, manifest, materialize, personalize, personify, document, back, bolster, buttress, reinforce, shore (up)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Substantiate

Words with the opposite meaning of Substantiate:

disprove, rebut, refute

Related Words for Substantiate

evidence, sustain, uphold, justify, avouch, back (up), testify (to), vouch (for), witness, guarantee, warrant, affirm, assert, aver, avow, declare, profess, actualize, concretize, realize, exemplify, illustrate, image, objectify, symbolize, typify, circumstantiate, evince, record, adduce

Near Antonyms of Substantiate

confute, discredit, invalidate, contradict, gainsay, deny, disavow, disclaim, challenge, contest, dispute, question, object, allege, assume, conjecture, guess, presume, surmise, suspect, undercut, undermine, weaken

Word Forms of Substantiate

Inflections: substantiated, substantiating

Derived words: substantiation (noun), substantiative (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Substantiate

First known use: 1610

Frequently Asked Questions about Substantiate

What does "Substantiate" mean?

"Substantiate" means to give substance or form to, embody. As a verb, it is defined as: to give substance or form to, embody. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Substantiate"?

Other words for "Substantiate" include demonstrate, establish, prove, show, argue, attest, authenticate and bear out. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Substantiate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Substantiate"?

There are 71 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Substantiate". Common alternatives include demonstrate, establish, prove, show, argue, attest, authenticate, bear out, certify and confirm.

What is the opposite of "Substantiate"?

Antonyms of "Substantiate" include disprove, rebut and refute. Near antonyms include confute, discredit, invalidate and contradict.

How do you use "Substantiate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Substantiate" in a sentence: "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"; "the artist's intense feelings are substantiated by his paintings' bold colors and broad brush strokes".

Is "Substantiate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Substantiate" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Substantiate"?

"Substantiate" is pronounced /səb-ˈstan(t)-shē-ˌāt/ and divided into syllables as sub·stan·ti·ate.

What is the origin of the word "Substantiate"?

First known use: 1610.