substantiate
To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of a claim.
Examples
In a meeting
“Can you substantiate that claim with data from the last quarter?”
Over coffee
“He couldn't substantiate his story, so nobody believed him.”
Why this word
prove
Substantiate means providing evidence to support a claim, while prove implies establishing complete certainty or truth
support
Substantiate specifically requires concrete evidence or facts, while support is more general and can include opinions
verify
Substantiate means providing evidence for a claim's validity, while verify means checking or confirming accuracy of existing information
Usage tip
Stronger than 'support' — it specifically means providing concrete evidence, not just agreement.
Etymology
Latin substantia (substance, essence) — sub (under) + stare (to stand)
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Related words
substantiated
To provide evidence or proof for a claim
rebut
Claim or prove that evidence or an accusation is false
empirical
Based on observation or experience rather than theory
probative
Serving to test, prove, or demonstrate something, especially as evidence
corroborate
To confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding.
contention
A point of dispute or assertion in an argument