ASCERTAIN Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'ascertain' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ascertain are determine , discover , learn , and unearth . While all these words mean "to find out what one did not previously know," ascertain implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty. // attempts to ascertain the population of the region

Q: When is 'determine' a more appropriate choice than 'ascertain'?

The meanings of determine and ascertain largely overlap; however, determine emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely. // unable to determine the origin of the word

Q: When would 'discover' be a good substitute for 'ascertain'?

While in some cases nearly identical to ascertain , discover may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter. // discovered the source of the river

Q: In what contexts can 'learn' take the place of 'ascertain'?

The words learn and ascertain can be used in similar contexts, but learn may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice. // I learned her name only today // learning Greek

Q: When can 'unearth' be used instead of 'ascertain'?

The words unearth and ascertain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, unearth implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden. // unearth old records

ascertain

verb

ˌa-sər-ˈtān

Definition of ascertain

as in to discover

to come to an awareness of was immediately able to ascertain that the girl was uncomfortable talking about her life at home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to find

to come upon after searching, study, or effort ascertained that their old colonial-era house had once functioned as a tavern

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ascertain contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of ascertain are determine, discover, learn, and unearth. While all these words mean "to find out what one did not previously know," ascertain implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty.

attempts to ascertain the population of the region

When is determine a more appropriate choice than ascertain?

The meanings of determine and ascertain largely overlap; however, determine emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely.

unable to determine the origin of the word

When would discover be a good substitute for ascertain?

While in some cases nearly identical to ascertain, discover may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter.

discovered the source of the river

In what contexts can learn take the place of ascertain?

The words learn and ascertain can be used in similar contexts, but learn may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice.

I learned her name only today

learning Greek

When can unearth be used instead of ascertain?

The words unearth and ascertain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, unearth implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden.

unearth old records

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 ascertain McNally says in addition, satellite images that tanker tracking firms normally rely on to ascertain shipping traffic are no longer widely available. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 The nationalities of 111 other missing people had yet to be ascertained, authorities said. — Arshad R. Zargar, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 The cause of the avalanche is still unknown, while the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation in the aftermath to ascertain whether criminal negligence played a role. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Whereas these institutions all fall within the executive branch, the Smithsonian’s status is harder to ascertain. — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ascertain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ascertain

Verb

Some of the movie’s most memorable moments have barely anything to do with the plot, like when Matt discovers his eyelids fusing together and attempts to separate them with nail scissors in the bathroom of a bumpy plane.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Some way off Moss discovers a bag with $2 million in cash and takes it.

— Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of discover

Verb

Neither team could find a flow from three-point range in the first half as the teams combined to shoot five for 29 from deep — three of 16 by Golden State and two for 13 by Atlanta.

— Janie McCauley, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Of the first 15 plays for the Dallas offense, 10 were on the ground, and the Cowboys found success.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

Stocks, the OneLegacy nurse, realized OPOs have data that could help patients advocate for themselves, and started combing records.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
The spirit company’s Instagram page shared a video of the moment people realized who their special guest was and began freaking out when Jenner walked in unannounced.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of realize

Verb

The Sun enters your 3rd House, beginning a month that favors learning, writing, conversations, local activity, and following questions farther than usual.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
The foundation cites decades of research and learning showing that grantees with flexible, long-term funding were better prepared for the unexpected.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of learn

Verb

The attacks, which saw 1,195 people killed and 251 taken into Gaza as hostages, triggered a major security crisis that led to three years of war on multiple fronts.

— Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
The offense had a healthy-enough balance with the run game (more on that in a bit) to involve multiple pass-catchers, and the trio of leading receivers saw the immediate benefits.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of see

Verb

According to local lore, however, Ware’s headless body is not in that grave but instead in her original grave, now located at the bottom of Silver Lake.

— Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
Named Gerrothorax maritimus, the salamander-sized ocean creature’s skeletons were discovered in China’s Guizhou Province in an area that was once covered by ocean and located hundreds of miles away from large land masses.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of locate

Verb

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a case about the role race plays in middle school admissions, three years after a majority on the high court struck down affirmative action in college.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Trying to exonerate herself, Erin lays out this confusing defense about how her makeup guy heard about Sai’s divorce at a beauty event.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of hear

Verb

The Kern County Coroner’s office will determine his cause of death, Hardy said.

— Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The spacecraft is expected to land near the Moon’s south pole, where the computer will undergo tests to determine whether advanced computing systems can operate reliably in the lunar environment.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of determine

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“Ascertain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ascertain. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ascertain

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