without fail
idiom
1
—used to stress that something always happens
Every day, without fail, he has toast and coffee for breakfast.
2
—used to stress that something will definitely happen
She promised that she would be there without fail.
Examples of without fail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
None of these women had heard of ESAs; all, without fail, asked how to sign up.
—
Scott Feuless, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
For every milestone, Shawna has shown up without fail.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
One cool thing: Canales lets his practice squad guys travel with the team, which gives Hooker the chance to ask Dalton questions during the game every week, without fail.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
Like clockwork—you’re there without fail every year, no?
—Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025
The Standard Model of elementary particles describes the electromagnetic, strong nuclear, and weak nuclear forces precisely and without fail, while general relativity describes gravitation for all forms of matter and energy.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 9 Sep. 2025
Here at Southern Living, our ground beef casserole and our hash brown casserole are two of the most popular recipes every month, without fail.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
As parents of preschoolers know, the reason timing like this often doesn’t work is because big emotions will—without fail—come into play and at the most inconvenient times.
—Katrina Donham, Parents, 19 Aug. 2025
But words always take hold of me without fail.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2025
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Scott Feuless, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
For every milestone, Shawna has shown up without fail.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
One cool thing: Canales lets his practice squad guys travel with the team, which gives Hooker the chance to ask Dalton questions during the game every week, without fail.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
Like clockwork—you’re there without fail every year, no?
—Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025
The Standard Model of elementary particles describes the electromagnetic, strong nuclear, and weak nuclear forces precisely and without fail, while general relativity describes gravitation for all forms of matter and energy.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 9 Sep. 2025
Here at Southern Living, our ground beef casserole and our hash brown casserole are two of the most popular recipes every month, without fail.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
As parents of preschoolers know, the reason timing like this often doesn’t work is because big emotions will—without fail—come into play and at the most inconvenient times.
—Katrina Donham, Parents, 19 Aug. 2025
But words always take hold of me without fail.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Without fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/without%20fail. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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