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
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
But if the human operator’s expertise must serve as a fail-safe to prevent catastrophe—guarding against edge cases or grabbing the controls if something breaks—then automation is failing to deliver on its promise.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Shop Now 10 Navy Blue In areas with strict historic guidelines, navy blue is often a fail-safe.
—Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 17 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Adjective
Circuit breakers Some outlets will have built-in circuit breakers, which will act as a fail-safe if too much power is channeled through the outlet.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
But if the human operator’s expertise must serve as a fail-safe to prevent catastrophe—guarding against edge cases or grabbing the controls if something breaks—then automation is failing to deliver on its promise.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
The idea was to make bank oversight both stricter and more fail-safe.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Shop Now 10 Navy Blue In areas with strict historic guidelines, navy blue is often a fail-safe.
—Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 17 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail-safe
Adjective
-
After all, calculators are more reliable than mental math.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
One route there, of course, is more reliable minutes with offensively gifted players.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
No one else was injured, and the actor was cleared shortly after receiving treatment, but in the wake of Holland's concussion, the movie has halted production as a precaution.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Always read directions and take precautions when using these herbicides.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Throwing technology at problems without understanding how work gets done day-to-day is a surefire way to waste money and breed cynicism.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Two new parents thought investing in the highly coveted SNOO bassinet seemed like a surefire way to guarantee restful nights, but their 1-month-old had other plans.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
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
-
While mobile boarding passes are a convenient and accessible way to have one of your most important travel documents at the ready, technology isn’t infallible.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Supreme Court and its judges are not infallible or above criticism.—
Adriana Carranca,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fail-safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail-safe. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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