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 insureThe cost to insure CoreWeave’s bonds has also risen 150% from a year ago, while its stock at one point fell 28% this week.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
16 Oct. 2026 As of 2026, roughly two-thirds of private employer plans, which insure half of Americans, were covering GLP-1 medications for weight loss to treat obesity.—
Dylan Scott,
Vox,
15 Oct. 2026 Hospital off-campus clinic sites grew from about 7,000 in 2013 to more than 34,000 in 2023, often in neighborhoods that are wealthier and better-insured than that of the parent hospital.—
Casey B. Mulligan,
STAT,
8 Oct. 2026 El-Sayed said his aim was not to strip anyone of their insurance but to ensure that everyone could be insured regardless of their employment status.—New York Times,
8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insure
County officials responsible for issuing building permits have been accused of failing to conduct adequate inspections to ensure developers comply with safety guidelines and construction standards.
—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Oct. 2026
The Justice Department aims to send poll monitors to all 50 states in the 2026 midterms, marking an ambitious expansion of a longstanding federal initiative aimed at ensuring election integrity.
—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Oct. 2026
Rest assured, for many ornamental grasses, this is a normal and expected part of their growth cycle.
—
The Spruce,
The Spruce,
5 Nov. 2026
Although several races have yet to be called as of Wednesday morning, enough elections are settled for the Democrats to be assured of winning both the House and Senate.
Valkyries owner Joe Lacob guaranteed a championship within the first five years for this franchise three years ago when the Bay Area was granted an expansion team, and in improbable, joyful fashion, his team accomplished it in Year 2.