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 insureFor decades, the government failed to grant fishing licenses to women, depriving them of fuel subsidies and the right to insure their boats.—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 7 June 2025 Related Articles California and Google will make a media fund for the floundering news industry
A Silicon Valley senator is proposing to insure multifamily development loans.—Tom Philp, Mercury News, 20 May 2025 Longbridge Platinum, a proprietary jumbo reverse mortgage, is available in about half the U.S.
HECM
A HECM is the most common type of reverse mortgage, insured by the Federal Housing Administration and available to homeowners 62 or older.—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 20 May 2025 In the Palisades, many homes were insured for more than $1 million.—Robert Kaplan, Mercury News, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for insure
These electrodes are housed in a body made from titanium and platinum-iridium, materials that are widely trusted in medical implants for their safety and compatibility with the human body, ensuring the device is suitable for long-term use.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2025
Switching your lightbulbs and ensuring your ceiling fan is spinning counterclockwise could be a big help for creating a cooler-feeling room.
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