demonstrate

verb

ˈde-mən-ˌstrāt How to pronounce demonstrate (audio)
Definition of demonstratenext
1
as in to prove
to gain full recognition or acceptance of you must demonstrate your scientific thesis before a jury of your professional peers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to establish
to show the existence or truth of by evidence the paleontologist hopes to demonstrate that dinosaurs once existed in central Peru by unearthing the fossil evidence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reveal
to make known (something abstract) through outward signs the babysitter's actions during the emergency demonstrate beyond doubt her general dependability

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to explain
to make plain or understandable a few striking facts should demonstrate the complex nature of our topic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to illustrate
to show or make clear by using examples the visiting physicist demonstrated very graphically several basic scientific principles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word demonstrate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of demonstrate are evidence, evince, manifest, and show. While all these words mean "to reveal outwardly or make apparent," demonstrate implies showing by action or by display of feeling.

demonstrated their approval by loud applause

When would evidence be a good substitute for demonstrate?

While in some cases nearly identical to demonstrate, evidence suggests serving as proof of the actuality or existence of something.

a commitment evidenced by years of loyal service

When might evince be a better fit than demonstrate?

The meanings of evince and demonstrate largely overlap; however, evince implies a showing by outward marks or signs.

evinced not the slightest fear

When could manifest be used to replace demonstrate?

Although the words manifest and demonstrate have much in common, manifest implies a plainer, more immediate revelation.

manifested musical ability at an early age

When can show be used instead of demonstrate?

The words show and demonstrate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, show is the general term but sometimes implies that what is revealed must be gained by inference from acts, looks, or words.

careful not to show his true feelings

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 demonstrate Finally, no credible evidence demonstrates the kind of unambiguous, exclusive genocidal intent toward Palestinians that international law requires and that cannot be reasonably interpreted otherwise. —Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026 Furthermore, the team demonstrated that pairing high-resistivity wafers with in-situ edge passivation is essential to manage their sensitivity and unlock their full performance. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026 According to oral tribal histories, the sachems demonstrated the boundaries of the Providence Land Grant to Roger Williams by standing at Neutaconkanut Hill and spreading their arms wide. —Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 14 Feb. 2026 Supporters of the Iranian opposition group People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran, also known as the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, demonstrated against Iran's deadly crackdown on nationwide protests last month. —ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for demonstrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demonstrate
  1. prove
  2. establish
  3. reveal
  4. explain
  5. illustrate
  6. show
  7. display
  8. clarify
Verb
  • But beyond that, unity has proved elusive.
    — JACQUELINE CHARLES MIAMI HERALD, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Mike Brown has his chance to prove Dolan and Rose right, and at least take the Knicks one round further than Thibodeau did, when his team never recovered from that crazy shot Tyrese Haliburton made in Game 1 of the conference finals.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of prove
Verb
  • Palestinian citizens of Israel are descendants of those who were not expelled or forced to flee their homes when Israel was established in 1948.
    — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Phytoplankton establishes on the branches, which attracts zooplankton and insects.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of establish
Verb
  • Similarly, footage showing federal agents killing Alex Pretti revealed the ICU nurse was holding a phone in his right hand, and an officer removing a gun from his back waistband before the shooting.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • During the sentencing hearing that began last week, prosecutors revealed the previously confidential contents of a handwritten note with Thompson's name and the shooting date found at his family's house in the Hedingham subdivision.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of reveal
Verb
  • Whitwam explains that Catalina mule deer hunting was traditionally reserved for island residents and their guests, or hunters who were willing to book with a local guide.
    — Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs argued Brady’s role as a sports network broadcaster — not just a Patriots icon — explains his neutral stance.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • Other experts said the subject’s movement could illustrate a lack of urgency.
    — Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The singer stood next to a set of faux power lines onstage, which quickly exploded to illustrate the island's frequent power outages.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of illustrate
Verb
  • Already, one in six families are in arrears, Wolfe said, noting the association’s preliminary review shows that household utility debt climbed to roughly $25 billion at the end of last year, up from about $23 billion the prior year.
    — Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
  • The results showed that while standard chemical leaching struggled without gravity to move fluids, the microbes didn’t blink.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Feb. 2026
Definition of show
Verb
  • The No Vigilantes Act required any law enforcement officer operating in California to visibly display identification, including the name of their agency and their name or badge number, except in undercover and other specific scenarios.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
  • For several months, a mysterious sign displayed in the windows of vacant storefront in Shorewood has intrigued passersby along Capitol Drive.
    — Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of display
Verb
  • In reality, the project and its progressive defenders fed those forces rather than clarified them.
    — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Republicans framed the bathroom and driver’s license bill as an addendum clarifying the intent of a separate 2023 bill barring trans women from accessing female-only spaces.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of clarify

Browse Nearby Words

demonstrable
demonstrate
demonstrated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Demonstrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demonstrate. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on demonstrate

Nglish: Translation of demonstrate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

What does 'etcetera' mean?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?

Why Is the Letter ‘Z’ Associated With Sleeping?

The Words of the Week - Feb. 13

Why do we call it 'ides of March'?
See More

Popular

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All