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 insureApparently, neither the American Challenger nor the tugboat Hunter were insured, the Press Democrat reported in 2021.—Steven Rosenfeld, Mercury News, 1 May 2025 Applicants for a permit must first have a current license to operate from the Lake County Health Department, a diagram showing the size of the vehicle or trailer, an Illinois sales tax certificate and proper insurance listing the city as an additional insured, according to city regulations.—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025 Rodney had, as part of his job, monitored prison conditions to insure that people with mental-health issues were placed in proper, legal confinement.—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025 Properties with outdated systems or non-standard construction materials, such as old wiring or lead pipes, can be significantly more expensive to insure, if coverage is available at all.—Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insure
Its Multi-Sensor System, combining infrared detection, ultrasonic sensors, and an AI camera, ensures accurate navigation, while the real-time app control allows users to direct the cleaning process to specific areas.
—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
This amendment was adopted in the aftermath of the Civil War to ensure that no government, no ideology, could ever again strip individuals of their fundamental rights based on lineage or place of origin.
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Vilerka Bilbao,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2025
Defense attorney Raven Liberty told the Miami Herald that three years ago, the Broward State Attorney’s Office assured the defense that Melly’s lyrics wouldn’t be used against him.
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Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2025
The club did not bring in psychologists in an attempt to lift spirits, though sources in the dressing room assure The Athletic that each player has access to his own psychologist or personal coach if required.
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