Definition of attestnext
1
as in to certify
to declare (something) to be true or genuine the appraiser attests that the lamp is indeed an original Tiffany

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to testify
to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact an eyewitness who will attest to my innocence

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb attest contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of attest are certify, vouch, and witness. While all these words mean "to testify to the truth or genuineness of something," attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses.

attested to the authenticity of the document

When would certify be a good substitute for attest?

The words certify and attest can be used in similar contexts, but certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal.

certified that the candidate had met all requirements

When could vouch be used to replace attest?

The meanings of vouch and attest largely overlap; however, vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person.

willing to vouch for her integrity

When is witness a more appropriate choice than attest?

Although the words witness and attest 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 attest More than 12,900 five-star reviewers attest to the function and style, with one reviewer sharing that the AirTag slot brought peace of mind while on an international trip. — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2026 Pavese situated the story of his time in much longer cycles than the ventennio of Fascism, which, as contemporary history attests, wasn’t so much defeated as repressed. — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 While something like the Mercator or Equal Earth projections would both make sense for a map related to Apollo, neither excels at depicting the poles, as their treatment of Antarctica attests. — Meghan Bartels, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026 People can experience love and tenderness for younger generations without biological parenthood, as any devoted aunt or teacher can attest. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attest
Verb
  • Seats designed for impact ANH Structure will design, develop, certify and manufacture a common seating platform for Valo’s pilots, observers and passengers.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The Federal Aviation Administration told CBS News and Politico that the vehicle doesn’t meet its definition of an aircraft, meaning the agency wouldn’t need to certify it as airworthy.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Two senior Interior Department officials will testify at another hearing on Monday.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 18 Oct. 2026
  • No one who later testified before the grand jury said who first proposed sending settlement money to Hope Florida, but the amount going to the foundation settled at $10 million.
    — Christopher Spata, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Opponents say Prop 134 takes decision making away from parents and could lead to invasive exams to verify a kid's gender.
    — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Unanswered questions The Star has been unable to independently verify that the officer had a green light and the Audi ran the red light, or that the police cruiser had its lights and sirens on.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Of course, the Nasdaq-100 or a similar tech-heavy index, isn’t guaranteed to deliver 21% returns each year for a decade going forward.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Keep in mind that monitoring services cannot guarantee prevention of identity theft or detect every form of medical fraud.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Representatives for Mandell’s family confirmed his death to The Times.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Netflix staff were informed that the company will undergo significant layoffs Wednesday, a source confirms to The Hollywood Reporter, as the streaming giant seeks a reset amid efforts to keep its global business growing.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The Academy of Pediatrics says decisions about gender affirming care should be made by patients and physicians, not government mandates.
    — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That’s because there’s no trustworthy result that voters are seeking to affirm.
    — Christopher Miller, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Others are skeptical the task force can accomplish much in such a short time period, arguing that eventually sweeping new legislation will be needed to regulate AI.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Consumer advocates have argued that digital labels could eventually be used for surge pricing or personalized pricing.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In my disturbance—whether witnessed by a fellow cinema patron or a reader of this essay—I am exposed a second time.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The young people set fire to electric hire bikes and looted at least one shop, a CNN producer on the ground witnessed.
    — Elina Baudier Kim, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Attest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attest. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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