safe

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adjective

Definition of SAFE

1

not exposed to the threat of loss or injury <the minute the rain started, we looked for a place where we would be safe from a drenching downpour>

Synonyms all right, alright, secure

Related Words hale, healthy, intact, sound, well, whole; scatheless, unharmed, unhurt, uninjured, unscathed

Phrases home free

Near Antonyms damaged, harmed, hurt, injured, scathed, wounded

Antonyms endangered, exposed, imperiled (or imperilled), insecure, liable, open, subject (to), susceptible, threatened, unsafe, violable, vulnerable

2

providing safety <we tried to find a safe place to hide our valuables while we went swimming>

Synonyms secure, snug

Related Words guarding, protecting, safeguarding, sheltering, shielding; defended, guarded, protected, sheltered, shielded; impregnable, inviolable, invulnerable, unassailable, unconquerable

Near Antonyms menacing, minatory, parlous, perilous, threatening; undefended, unguarded, unprotected, vulnerable; precarious, treacherous, uncertain

Antonyms dangerous, hazardous, insecure, risky, unsafe

3

unlikely to provoke controversy or offense <when chatting with strangers, she prefers to stick to safe topics such as the weather>

Synonyms noncontroversial, uncontroversial

Related Words politically correct; hands-down, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, undeniable, unquestionable; irrefutable; certain, definite, positive, sure; uncontested, undisputed

Near Antonyms arguable, contestable, controvertible, debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, moot, questionable; debated, disputed

Antonyms controversial, hot-button

4

having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble <rewarded safe drivers with lower insurance rates>

Synonyms alert, cautious, chary, circumspect, conservative, considerate, gingerly, guarded, heedful, safe, wary

Related Words advertent, attentive, awake, observant, regardful, vigilant, watchful; hypercautious; foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, provident, thoughtful; cagey (also cagy), calculating, canny, shrewd; deliberate, slow; ultracareful, ultracautious

Near Antonyms bold, brash, impetuous, rash, reckless, venturesome; asleep, inattentive, regardless; inconsiderate, thoughtless; lax, neglectful, negligent, remiss; imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious; absentminded, forgetful; inadvertent, unintentional, unplanned

Antonyms careless, heedless, incautious, unguarded, unmindful, unsafe, unwary

5

not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt <that pain reliever is safe for most people to take>

Synonyms anodyne, benign, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe, white

Related Words healthful, healthy, salubrious, wholesome; benignant; sound, trustworthy; gentle, gracious, mild; nonthreatening, painless, unobjectionable; noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Near Antonyms poisonous, venomous; menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening; hazardous, imperiling (or imperilling), jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound; nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome; offensive, painful, scathing, wounding; deadly, fatal, lethal, ruinous; destructive, insidious, malignant, noxious, pestilent, polluted, tainted

Antonyms adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked

6

worthy of one's trust <she always offers safe advice>

Synonyms calculable, good, reliable, responsible, safe, secure, solid, steady, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustable, trustworthy, trusty

Related Words constant, devoted, faithful, fast, loyal, staunch (also stanch), steadfast, true-blue; honest, sincere, single-minded; infallible, unerring; bedrock, firm, sound, strong; effective, telling; attested, authenticated, confirmed, proven, valid, validated, verified; blameless, faultless, guiltless, impeccable, inerrant, irreproachable, unimpeachable, unquestionable

Near Antonyms disloyal, faithless, false, fickle, inconstant, perfidious, recreant, traitorous, treacherous, unfaithful, untrue; deceitful, dishonest, lying, mendacious, untruthful; debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, dubious, fishy, problematic (also problematical), questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, uncertain, unsound; hazardous, risky; unconfirmed, untried

Antonyms dodgy [chiefly British], uncertain, undependable, unreliable, unsafe, untrustworthy