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as in to guarantee
to declare (something) to be true or genuine experts certified the letter as indeed having been written by Abraham Lincoln

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb certify contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of certify are attest, vouch, and witness. While all these words mean "to testify to the truth or genuineness of something," certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal.

certified that the candidate had met all requirements

When would attest be a good substitute for certify?

The meanings of attest and certify largely overlap; however, attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses.

attested to the authenticity of the document

In what contexts can vouch take the place of certify?

In some situations, the words vouch and certify are roughly equivalent. However, vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person.

willing to vouch for her integrity

When could witness be used to replace certify?

Although the words witness and certify have much in common, witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness.

witnessed the signing of the will

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 certify The American Lung Association and EWG recommend looking for cleaners certified as Safer Choice, a label created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025 The opinion took a step known as certifying a conflict with the decisions by the 3rd District Court of Appeal and the 4th District Court of Appeal, which said charges should not be dismissed in such cases. Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2025 Many Trump supporters have harbored anger toward Pence for certifying the 2020 presidential election that Trump attempted to overturn following his loss to Joe Biden. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025 Each location has unique factors including weather patterns, traffic volume and geographic features that trainees must master before becoming certified. Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for certify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for certify
Verb
  • Validating Transaction Completeness Even in 2025, no open banking provider guarantees 100% accuracy.
    Peter Potapov, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The pope has been sleeping with a non-invasive mechanical mask to guarantee that his lungs expand properly overnight and help his recovery.
    Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Digital platforms, including mobile apps, chatbots and social media, can enable companies to engage with customers in real time and provide instant responses to queries and concerns.
    Naeem Ghauri, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Treasury remains committed to disrupting the schemes that enable Iran to send its deadly weapons abroad to its terrorist proxies and other destabilizing actors.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Check road conditions: Before embarking on your journey, verify the current road conditions to make informed travel decisions.
    Southern California Weather Report, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2025
  • There was no sanitizer measured in a three-compartment sink or in buckets with wipe cloths, and employees did not know how to properly verify the quantity of sanitizer using test strips.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Cautious optimism grew earlier in the week as the twice-daily health updates affirmed that the pope was eating solid food, sitting up in his armchair, and even taking care of simple work tasks from the comfort of his hospital room.
    Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Lee is appealing his conviction for election-law violations in 2022, and if two appellate courts affirm it, he will be barred from public office for 10 years.
    Ian Bremmer, TIME, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The officials, who were familiar with the matter, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
    Susie Blann, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
    Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The study confirmed that the MMR vaccine did not increase the risk for autism spectrum disorder.
    Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Earlier this week, during a meeting with US officials in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia has offered to participate in nuclear talks between the US and Iran.
    Mohammed Tawfeeq and Donald Judd, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • His 12 fight-night bonus awards in 12 UFC outings can attest to that.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
  • And that god, as any parent of a teenager can attest, can be judging and unforgiving.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Darling details and tender textiles lined the runways, infusing designer collections with an empowering undercurrent and a subtle sense of feminine allure.
    Elizabeth Grace Coyne, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The immersive script development lab running concurrently will aim to empower a new diverse cohort of emerging screenwriters to explore their creative voices and hone their storytelling craft for the screen.
    Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Certify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/certify. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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