Synonyms

well-founded

American

[wel-foun-did] / ˈwɛlˈfaʊn dɪd /

adjective

having a foundation in fact; based on good reasons, information, etc..

well-founded suspicions.

well-founded British

adjective

having good grounds

well-founded rumours

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of well-founded

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But when accommodation expands without clear boundaries or meaningful verification, its credibility erodes and skepticism grows about even well-founded uses.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We saw caution on China and on U.S. tariffs for 2026, and it appears those concerns were well-founded.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Thousands of mourners turned out for his funeral in Moscow in March 2024 despite well-founded fears of a police crackdown.

From BBC

And those concerns turned out to be all too well-founded.

From Salon

BBC News spoke to three experts to find out if environmental, financial and medical concerns about air conditioning are well-founded.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023