1
as in one
known but not named a certain person told me that today is your birthday

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
5
as in reliable
not likely to fail chicken soup is grandma's certain cure for pretty much whatever ails you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective certain contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of certain are cocksure, positive, and sure. While all these words mean "having no doubt or uncertainty," certain may apply to a basing of a conclusion or conviction on definite grounds or indubitable evidence.

police are certain about the cause of the fire

When would cocksure be a good substitute for certain?

In some situations, the words cocksure and certain are roughly equivalent. However, cocksure implies presumptuous or careless positiveness.

you're always so cocksure about everything

When is it sensible to use positive instead of certain?

While the synonyms positive and certain are close in meaning, positive intensifies sureness or certainty and may imply opinionated conviction or forceful expression of it.

I'm positive that's the person I saw

When could sure be used to replace certain?

The words sure and certain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sure usually stresses the subjective or intuitive feeling of assurance.

felt sure that I had forgotten something

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of certain To date, other iterations of self-driving buses around the country are limited to private roads or properties, or rely on drivers to lend the occasional hand or foot for certain parts of the route. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025 There is a dangerous idea gaining traction in certain political circles: the elimination of birthright citizenship. Vilerka Bilbao, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025 This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2025 The frontcourt, on the other hand, is less certain. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for certain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for certain
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Adjective
  • Born in 18th-century England, the classic seat continues to win hearts in the pages of AD and beyond By Anna Elise Anderson Kitchen Trends 2025: The Big Ideas Ruling the Home’s Most Popular Room One thing’s for sure: The boring white kitchen is a thing of the past.
    Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 12 May 2025
  • The direction — Paul Weitz helmed the first two episodes and several additional, but not the whole thing — is less sure.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Temperatures are all maintained and stable in all steps.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2025
  • They’re made with a contoured footbed packed with arch support, as well as a deep heel cup to keep your feet stable.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Constant vigilance is necessary because drownings can happen within minutes, and young children especially can wander off or duck out of sight quickly.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • This might mean caps on unlimited PTO during certain times of year, or that advance approval is necessary.
    Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • At a time when trust in institutions is declining, access to reliable information feels harder to come by, and the need for noncommercial, high-quality early-childhood content is greater than ever, public media stands apart as a vital and unifying source.
    Mark G. Contreras, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2025
  • The buttery-soft jeans are my most comfortable denim, and finding a reliable white pair in the past has often been a struggle.
    Ali Faccenda, People.com, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • Seafood Courses The eight courses begin with an amuse-bouche containing definite New York touches including a King Salmon Everything Bagel plus a suggestion of a smash burger but composed of the fatty tuna Otoro, egg yolk gelee and Choux pastry and an A5 Wagyu & Hokkaido Uni Sando.
    Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
  • American admiration of French pharmacy products is, without a doubt, connected to a general sense of fascination and mysticism with French beauty and style, and there's a definite allure to that foreignness.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 5 May 2025
Adjective
  • The big story Just a week after a breakthrough in U.S.-China trade tensions, neither side can yet be confident that the other is holding up their end of the bargain.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 21 May 2025
  • The club, for their part, are confident they will be granted entry.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • The pieces are easy for little fingers to manipulate, and the final project is delightful—an archery set that shoots little balls at a target!
    Adrienne So, Wired News, 17 May 2025
  • From there, Jin narrowed down the final count to seven songs, each exploring themes of love and connection.
    Olivia Munson, USA Today, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Certain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/certain. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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