Synonym Chooser

How does the noun certainty differ from other similar words?

The words certitude and conviction are common synonyms of certainty. While all three words mean "a state of being free from doubt," certainty and certitude are very close; certainty may stress the existence of objective proof.

claims that cannot be confirmed with scientific certainty

When might certitude be a better fit than certainty?

The synonyms certitude and certainty are sometimes interchangeable, but certitude may emphasize a faith in something not needing or not capable of proof.

believes with certitude in an afterlife

When is conviction a more appropriate choice than certainty?

In some situations, the words conviction and certainty are roughly equivalent. However, conviction applies especially to belief strongly held by an individual.

holds firm convictions on every issue

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 certainty Today, members of our nation’s military, federal law enforcement, TSA and air traffic controllers are keeping us safe without the certainty of a paycheck. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025 But some retailers are testing, iterating, and gathering insights from every conversation their AI agents have, while others are waiting for certainty that will never come. Fayez Mohamood, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025 Whether either of Ketcher’s proposals reaches the November 2026 ballot is far from a certainty. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2025 While these remain allegations and suspicions at this time the facts remain that the size, timing, and one-way directionality of the position indicate higher-than-normal certainty for such a large unhedged position. Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for certainty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for certainty
Noun
  • His legal team condemned the plan as unconstitutional and punitive, warning that without assurances from Liberia, Abrego Garcia could be sent back to El Salvador.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • German journalism unions have voiced concerns over the editorial direction of ProSieben under MFE, which led to Berlusconi providing assurances to senior government ministers that independence would remain.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Tyrod Taylor could, in theory, raise the likelihood of winning another game somewhere along the way, but there is no upside.
    Jeff Howe, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • But an elevated inflation reading on Friday could give Fed officials pause, since a rate cut would increase the likelihood of a spike in demand that further drives up prices.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Brazil’s leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed confidence on Monday that his country and the United States will reach a trade deal.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Playing without starting quarterback Nicco Marchiol and its top two running backs, the Mountaineers were limited offensively, and TCU’s defense did a tremendous job of not giving the West Virginia offense confidence.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But the gooners’ rise does, in retrospect, possess a certain inevitability.
    Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The series then retreats to 2019 to trace the circumstances that led to these killings, building toward the inevitability of Maggie and Paul’s death and filtering the whole family through a lens of catastrophe, where every member is either ill-fated or devious.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Some studies show that adding MSG can improve meal satisfaction and slightly reduce calorie intake.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Many of us are yearning for a slower pace and more tangible satisfaction.
    Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • These experiments came after a deep-learning model sifted through possibilities to find high-probability candidates, a definitive transformation from brute-force searches typically favored in the past.
    Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The lawsuit says Taylor Cadle was wrongfully prosecuted for lying before providing video evidence of the abuse, leading to Henry Cadle’s conviction.
    Real-Time News team, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Leaning on circumstantial evidence and testimony later determined to be made under pressure by local police, according to the Exoneration Registry, Vedam was sentenced to life in prison but continued to appeal his conviction over the next 40-plus years.
    Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Certainty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/certainty. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

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