1
as in attesting
to declare (something) to be true or genuine
a notary public witnessing wills and other important documents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
witnessed the crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in testifying
to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact
I witnessed to the fact that I had seen them together that night
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it
war changes anyone who has ever witnessed it first hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of witnessing
An entire student body is being traumatized by witnessing ICE activity around their schools.
—
Wcco Staff, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Gemma Chan and Channing Tatum are the two helpless parents of a sensitive eight-year-old (Mason Reeves) who is deeply shaken after accidentally witnessing a horrific crime at a local park in Beth de Araújo’s devastating portrait of childhood trauma.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2026
Another key learning came from witnessing the diversity of Waste Management’s workforce and making small tweaks to make sure employees were clearly informed.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026
Later a security guard breaks down in tears while witnessing their heartbreak.
—Carol Guzy, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Chad Hanson remembers a time, not so long ago, when driving on a bridge across Florida’s Apalachicola Bay meant witnessing an astounding sight.
—Brady Dennis, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2026
This is partly why witnessing this cosmic phenomenon is so special.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
DarkSky International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the night sky, has identified some of the best spots for witnessing the wonders of the cosmos across the island country.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
The younger Ennis recalls witnessing from an early age the discipline and determination required to compete at the highest level.
—Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for witnessing
Verb
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At his clinic, the licensor, posing as a patient, received a vaccine card attesting to her vaccination without ever being offered a shot, prosecutors said.—
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The current requirement includes attesting on the form, under penalty of perjury, that the applicant is an American citizen.—
Verb
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Or noticing that your hands feel inexplicably stiff and swollen, making simple tasks like opening a jar or even typing feel unusually difficult.—
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The second witness went inside for safety, then re-emerged, noticing the brothers were fighting, court records state.—
Verb
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PAs testifying in support of the bill also argued the changes would give them parity with nurse practitioners, keeping them competitive in the workforce.—
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Starting April 1, 1807, Black people in Ohio were barred from testifying in any case, civil or criminal, in which one of the parties was white.—
Verb
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Weak shaking has been recorded and several residents reported experiencing the tremor in Ridgecrest and the surrounding area according to the USGS DYFI report.—
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Additionally, people with IBS and IBD are more sensitive to changes in fiber in their diet and may already be experiencing constipation and/or diarrhea, which are common side effects of juice cleanses.—
Verb
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Democrats and consumer advocates counter that deregulation could benefit providers without guaranteeing savings for families.—
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Hiring enough nurses, guaranteeing nurses health benefits, and protecting us from workplace violence — these are investments too.—
Verb
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Federal officials have said agents, including those part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are seeing increases in assaults and threats against them.—
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Since the suitcase won’t be as easy to zip open, thieves will have a harder time seeing whether or not your belongings are valuable; this alone could prevent your bag from becoming a target.—
Verb
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To demonstrate the system’s capabilities, the research team, led by Huang Jiangtao of the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre, applied PADJ-X to conceptual configurations resembling the US Air Force’s B-21 stealth bomber, which is currently undergoing flight testing.—
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The throne eventually made its way to Axl Rose, who used it on tour with Guns N’ Roses, and later Old Dominion frontman Matthew Ramsey, who used it in 2019 after undergoing surgery on his leg.—
Verb
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Book blogs mourned my loss, a distinction that was both affirming and heartrending.—
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The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention recently released new guidance on moving upstream, affirming the importance of connection, belonging, economic stability, and community-level protective factors.—
Cite this Entry
“Witnessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witnessing. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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