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
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
Can ethics and progress uphold each other without fail?
—Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 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
Every summer without fail, a thin black line of marching ants forms on the short path from my sliding doors to the kitchen pantry.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2025
In recent years, the U.S. Dollar Index – which measures its value relative to a basket of major foreign currencies – has remained almost without fail above 100, indicating sustained strength versus its peers.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
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Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Can ethics and progress uphold each other without fail?
—Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 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
Every summer without fail, a thin black line of marching ants forms on the short path from my sliding doors to the kitchen pantry.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2025
In recent years, the U.S. Dollar Index – which measures its value relative to a basket of major foreign currencies – has remained almost without fail above 100, indicating sustained strength versus its peers.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Without fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/without%20fail. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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