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
Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Nov. 2025
For a fail-safe choice, go for a white fabric liner constructed of polyester, canvas, or other natural fiber iterations (that are either mildew-resistant, water-repellent, and/or machine washable).
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
This suggests gaps in contingency planning and basic fail-safe design.
—Missy Cummings, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Adjective
At this time, there is no fail-safe way for creators to determine if AI companies have used their work to train models, which can violate copyrights of the works of countless artists.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Nov. 2025
For a fail-safe choice, go for a white fabric liner constructed of polyester, canvas, or other natural fiber iterations (that are either mildew-resistant, water-repellent, and/or machine washable).
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025
Noun
The new robotic system eliminates these human vulnerabilities, offering a stable, fail-safe alternative that protects doctors from long-term radiation exposure.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
This suggests gaps in contingency planning and basic fail-safe design.
—Missy Cummings, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail-safe
Adjective
-
Name what works, define one agreement, and build from something that feels stable and reliable.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
5 May 2026
-
As markets continue to adjust, gold coins are expected to maintain their position as a reliable store of value.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
When cleaning areas like a garden shed or garage, de la Sancha advises Chicagoans to take precautions.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
The study found that sixty-five per cent of female students and thirty per cent of male students felt the need to take some precautions during their transit trips.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
McCoy went from surefire first-rounder to the first pick of the fourth round because of concerns over a possible degenerative knee condition.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Downs was a surefire player coming out of high school.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
The presumption that my doctor was infallible.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
Democracy is a mode of government built on the idea that none of us is infallible, including those who assume positions of leadership.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fail-safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail-safe. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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