Word: substantiated (verb)

Associations

The word "substantiated" means to provide evidence that supports a claim or theory. When something is substantiated, it is confirmed and made more believable or valid.

• Example 1: The scientist substantiated her findings with several experiments. This means she provided evidence through her experiments to support her conclusions.
• Example 2: The lawyer substantiated his client's alibi by introducing video footage. Here, the lawyer provided proof that supported his argument.
• Example 3: The report was substantiated with data gathered from reliable sources. This shows that the report was confirmed by trustworthy information.

The synonym is "verified." The main difference is that "substantiated" often implies that something is supported with evidence, while "verified" simply means that something has been confirmed as true without emphasizing the evidence used for confirmation.

Substitution

In place of "substantiated," you can use:

• "confirmed" – often used in a more general sense but can lack the specific evidence aspect.
• "authenticated" – typically used for documents or claims that need validation.
• "supported" – indicates backing but may not imply formal evidence.

Deconstruction

The word "substantiated" consists of the root "stante," which comes from Latin "stare," meaning "to stand." The prefix "sub-" means "under" or "below." So, the word can be understood as something that "stands under" or supports a claim strongly.

This word has been used in legal and scientific contexts where evidence is crucial for credibility.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where you had to substantiate your opinion or belief? What evidence did you use?
• Why is it important to substantiate claims in discussions or debates?
• How might the absence of substantiation affect the credibility of a statement or argument?