corroborate
/kə'rɔbəreit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To support or confirm a statement, theory, or finding by providing evidence or authority. It means to make something more certain or believable by adding new proof or facts.
- To strengthen or establish a claim or idea with additional information.
Usage
The verb "corroborate" is used when presenting new information that aligns with and supports existing information, thereby increasing its credibility. It is a formal term common in legal, academic, and journalistic contexts. It is typically followed by a direct object (the thing being confirmed). - You corroborate a story, a theory, a statement, an alibi, or evidence. - The subject is usually the person or piece of evidence that provides the supporting proof.
Examples
- The new witness testimony corroborated the victim's account of the event.
- Several independent studies have corroborated the initial research findings.
- The physical evidence found at the scene corroborates the detective's hypothesis.
- I need a second source to corroborate this information before I can publish the article.
Advanced Usage
- "to corroborate someone": This is used less frequently. It means to provide evidence that supports what a specific person has said.
- The documents corroborated the whistleblower, leading to a formal investigation.
- Passive Voice: Often used to describe the state of being supported by evidence.
- His alibi was corroborated by security camera footage.
Variants and Related Words
- Corroboration (noun): Evidence which confirms or supports a statement, theory, or finding.
- The report lacked corroboration from other sources.
- Corroborative (adjective): Serving to corroborate something.
- The detective presented corroborative details from the forensic report.
- Corroborator (noun): A person or thing that corroborates.
- The key witness was the main corroborator for the prosecution's case.
Synonyms
- Confirm: To establish the truth or correctness of something.
- Substantiate: To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of something.
- Verify: To make sure or demonstrate that something is true, accurate, or justified.
- Validate: To check or prove the validity or accuracy of something.
- Support: To give assistance or backing to; to provide evidence for.
- Bear out: To confirm or support (a phrasal verb with similar meaning).
Antonyms
- Contradict: To be in conflict with; to assert the opposite of a statement.
- Refute: To prove a statement or theory to be wrong or false.
- Disprove: To show that something is false.
- Undermine: To lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of something, especially gradually or insidiously.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "To lend credence to": This phrase is similar in meaning to "corroborate," meaning to make something seem more believable.
- The signed confession lent credence to the allegations.
- "To back up": A more informal phrasal verb meaning to support or confirm.
- Can you back up your claim with any data?
Verb
- support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm
- The stories and claims were born out by the evidence
- give evidence for
- establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
- his story confirmed my doubts
- The evidence supports the defendant