as in reliable
not likely to fail
flowers have been traditionally regarded as the fail-safe gift for Valentine's Day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in precaution
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury
there are so many fail-safes built into the system that a highly unlikely series of mistakes would have to be made before failure could occur
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fail-safe
Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
In light of this, many public schools might be disinclined to relinquish what could be a fail-safe legal safeguard by including explicit ADR language into revenue-sharing contracts with athletes.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 Feb. 2025
Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Shop Now 10 Navy Blue In areas with strict historic guidelines, navy blue is often a fail-safe.
—Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 17 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Adjective
Senate leaders chose to plow ahead with their budget plan even after Mr. Trump endorsed the House’s one-big-bill approach on Wednesday, characterizing their measure as a fail-safe should the House falter.
—Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
In light of this, many public schools might be disinclined to relinquish what could be a fail-safe legal safeguard by including explicit ADR language into revenue-sharing contracts with athletes.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 Feb. 2025
Noun
The idea was to make bank oversight both stricter and more fail-safe.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Shop Now 10 Navy Blue In areas with strict historic guidelines, navy blue is often a fail-safe.
—Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 17 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail-safe
Adjective
-
Men’s Pathfinder Rechargeable LED Cap $45 $35 at L.L. Bean Stay prepared on the trail with this rugged lighted ball cap, built for hikers and campers who need reliable, hands-free lighting.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Apr. 2025
-
The only solution with the current state of the Dodgers is a blockbuster trade for a reliable pitcher to bolster their rotation.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Other zoos did the same, slaughtering their animal collections as a precaution against possible escape.—
John M. Kinder,
The Conversation,
1 May 2025
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However, parents and caregivers may want to take some extra precautions for children.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There will possibly be some surprises, but there are also several players who feel like surefire trade candidates.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
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Vionic Uptown Loafers $125 $80 at Amazon Great for work events, casual outings, and lounging around, loafers are a surefire travel shoe choice.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Padlocks, sickles and other objects made of iron, a metal said to possess anti-demonic powers, were stashed in the grave as preventives.—
Franz Lidz,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2023
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But although human vaccines function primarily as preventives, offering immunity to animals such as black-footed ferrets can be a conservation strategy of last resort.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2023
Adjective
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And these heroes, slightly idealized but by no means infallible versions of the ones who exist in real hospitals, keep showing up, shift after endless shift, to keep pushing that rock up the hill.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
11 Apr. 2025
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Many treat data as infallible, ignoring context, sampling biases, and statistical significance.—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fail-safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail-safe. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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