How is the word insure distinct from other similar verbs?
Some common synonyms of insure are assure, ensure, and secure. While all these words mean "to make a thing or person sure," insure sometimes stresses the taking of necessary measures beforehand.
careful planning should insure the success of the party
When can assure be used instead of insure?
In some situations, the words assure and insure are roughly equivalent. However, assure distinctively implies the removal of doubt and suspense from a person's mind.
I assure you that no harm will be done
How is ensure related to other words for insure?
Ensure, insure, and assure are interchangeable in many contexts where they indicate the making certain or inevitable of an outcome, but ensure may imply a virtual guarantee.
the government has ensured the safety of the refugees
When is secure a more appropriate choice than insure?
The words secure and insure can be used in similar contexts, but secure implies action taken to guard against attack or loss.
sent reinforcements to secure their position
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insureThe cost to insure a 21-year-old in Denver would rise by $1,057 a year, while the increase would be $5,186 a year for a 60-year-old on the Western Slope, according to the Division of Insurance.—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 22 July 2025 Construction crews then re-dredge the river and re-armor its sides, insuring that the hydrological conditions that caused the flooding will be the same, or worse, the next time.—John Seabrook, New Yorker, 21 July 2025 New Mexico's Medicaid program insures 34% of the state's population − the nation's highest proportion of residents covered by the public health insurance program, according to a February 2025 report by the health policy nonprofit KFF.—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 30 July 2025 Get your engagement and wedding rings insured Most homeowners policies have low coverage limits for valuables, typically about $1,500.—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for insure
While no two situations are the same, clients benefit from the same high level of service and strategic insight traditionally reserved for institutions and billionaires, ensuring their unique goals and values are fully reflected in each financial strategy.
—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
Each dish ensures that Mémoire Cà Phê makes a lasting impression.
This is mutually assured destruction with ballots instead of missiles.
—
Matt K. Lewis,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
With reelection in the general assured, candidates are focused on catering to their own party base, which tends to be a more extreme subset of their constituents.
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