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
But without fail, companies merge or get acquired, deals get done, and people regret not bringing an umbrella or packing more comfortable shoes.
—
Alex Hogan, STAT, 8 Jan. 2026
And seriously, without fail, I got completely sucked into Oprah’s magic.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 30 Dec. 2025
Metta practice is meant to grow people’s ability to be present for themselves and others without fail.
—Jeremy David Engels, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
There’s one show at the Disneyland Resort that each year, without fail, brings me to tears — tears of joy, but also tears of surprise that something so lively, diverse and dance-focused exists at a Disney park.
—Todd Martens, Boston Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
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
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
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Alex Hogan, STAT, 8 Jan. 2026
And seriously, without fail, I got completely sucked into Oprah’s magic.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 30 Dec. 2025
Metta practice is meant to grow people’s ability to be present for themselves and others without fail.
—Jeremy David Engels, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
There’s one show at the Disneyland Resort that each year, without fail, brings me to tears — tears of joy, but also tears of surprise that something so lively, diverse and dance-focused exists at a Disney park.
—Todd Martens, Boston Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Without fail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/without%20fail. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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