WordValecorroborate
to confirm with additional evidence
to support with additional evidence
In more detail
1. (verb) to confirm or support something with evidence or a statement
2. (verb) to make something seem more likely to be true by providing additional evidence
Examples
- 1. The witness's testimony corroborated the defendant's alibi.
- 2. The new documents corroborate the researcher's findings about the historical event.
How to use corroborate
Corroborate is used when independent evidence or testimony supports or reinforces a claim, accusation, or narrative. It is more formal than 'confirm' and emphasizes the provision of additional proof that strengthens credibility. It typically appears in academic, legal, and journalistic contexts where establishing truthfulness matters.
Common phrases
- corroborate a story
- corroborate evidence
- corroborate the claim
- corroborate an account
- corroborate a witness
- corroborate findings
Synonyms
confirm · verify · substantiate · support · validate
Opposites
contradict · refute · disprove
Word family
corroboration (noun) · corroborative (adjective) · corroborating (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use corroborate to mean 'to prove something entirely' rather than understanding it as providing supporting evidence that makes a claim more believable.
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