Substantiate

mediumPositive tone

sub-STAN-shee-ayt

verb

Definition

To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of something

Memory hook

SUB-STANTI-ate: Give SUBSTANCE to your claims -- back them up with real evidence.

See more GRE words with mnemonics.

Word roots

substantiasubstance, being(Latin)

Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.

Examples

The lawyer substantiated his claims with solid evidence.
She could not substantiate her accusations against him.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

The lawyer ______ his claims with solid evidence.
Show answer

substantiated

Synonyms

verifyconfirmcorroboratevalidate

Antonyms

disproverefutecontradictinvalidate

Categories

View all Evidence words

GRE Tip

Substantiate is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "verify" or "confirm" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "disprove".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

Related GRE Words

Master substantiate and 1,000+ GRE words

Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.