secure 1 of 2

verb

Definition of securenext
1
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from sent troops to secure the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ensure
to make sure, certain, or safe a retirement account that will help to secure our future

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fasten
to put securely in place or in a desired position candidates for admission are asked to secure a recent photo to their application forms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to win
to receive as return for effort finally secured a job after sending out dozens of applications

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

secure

2 of 2

adjective

si-ˈkyu̇r How to pronounce secure (audio)
1
as in confident
having or showing great faith in oneself or one's abilities he's so secure about winning the marathon that he's practically spent the prize money

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in safe
not exposed to the threat of loss or injury the fortress was thought to be secure against attack

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in protecting
providing safety escaped to a secure location

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in reliable
worthy of one's trust a fund that should provide them with a secure income in their retirement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word secure distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of secure are assure, ensure, and insure. While all these words mean "to make a thing or person sure," secure implies action taken to guard against attack or loss.

sent reinforcements to secure their position

When can assure be used instead of secure?

The words assure and secure can be used in similar contexts, but assure distinctively implies the removal of doubt and suspense from a person's mind.

I assure you that no harm will be done

How does the word ensure relate to other synonyms for secure?

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 it sensible to use insure instead of secure?

While the synonyms insure and secure are close in meaning, insure sometimes stresses the taking of necessary measures beforehand.

careful planning should insure the success of the party

How is the word secure distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of secure are assure, ensure, and insure. While all these words mean "to make a thing or person sure," secure implies action taken to guard against attack or loss.

sent reinforcements to secure their position

When can assure be used instead of secure?

The words assure and secure can be used in similar contexts, but assure distinctively implies the removal of doubt and suspense from a person's mind.

I assure you that no harm will be done

How does the word ensure relate to other synonyms for secure?

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 it sensible to use insure instead of secure?

While the synonyms insure and secure are close in meaning, insure sometimes stresses the taking of necessary measures beforehand.

careful planning should insure the success of the party

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 secure
Verb
Roy secured his spot in the general election by creating his own third party, the Freedom and Unity party. —Amanda Swinhart, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026 Most high-back booster seats come with a five-point harness that provides the most safe and secure fit, while backless booster seats secure your child using the car’s seat belt. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The upgrade aims to make riding MARTA faster, more secure, and more convenient for daily travelers and the nearly one million current Breeze cardholders. —La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026 The lawmaker said Iran would collect tolls in exchange for secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Google translation. —Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for secure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for secure
  1. protect
  2. ensure
  3. fasten
  4. win
  5. confident
  6. safe
  7. reliable
  8. defend
Verb
  • Ultimately, a lack of Democratic support for weakening the filibuster prevented them from passing that legislation, but Republicans were also vehemently opposed and leaned on arguments about protecting states’ rights.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
  • In May, the state attorney general's office will return to court to seek a judge's order that the company makes changes to its systems to protect children.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of protect
Verb
  • Austin-Gatson emphasized that Georgia's current system — primaries followed by general elections — allows voters to better evaluate candidates and ensures fairness in the process.
    — CBS Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Your vigor is a gift, yet pacing yourself ensures consistency and keeps your focus strong beyond a single push toward completion.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of ensure
Verb
  • Jesús Domínguez pushes through thick brush lining a rugged mountainside with an AK-47 slung over his shoulder and a grenade fastened to his leather belt.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The images, taken from a camera fastened to a fence and focused on the back of the house and another that showed the driveway and front of the garage door, captured family members, landscapers and pool workers stretching back weeks prior to the kidnapping.
    — Pat Milton, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of fasten
Verb
  • Frederiksen's Social Democrats received the most votes and were seen winning 38 seats in Denmark's 179-seat parliament, results published early Wednesday showed, compared with 50 seats four years earlier.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Vargas unveiled Ohtani's mural in 2024, followed by another honoring Fernando Valenzuela in 2025, both years when the Dodgers won the World Series.
    — Rina Nakano, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of win
Adjective
  • The suburbs have also grown more diverse and educated over the past few decades, demographic shifts that may make Democrats more confident.
    — Steve Peoples, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Chevrolet seems confident that both versions of the Grand Sport will become the lineup’s best-selling models.
    — Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of confident
Adjective
  • March 21 – April 19 This morning invites playful risks that still feel safe.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The Amber Alert issued for two Dallas children, last seen on Thursday afternoon, has been canceled after the children were found safe, Dallas police said.
    — CBS Texas Staff, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of safe
Adjective
  • Puerto Rico is strategically located, and has the benefit of being US territory, whereas other key US bases in Latin America are situated in countries with less reliable governments, such as Cuba, said Will Freeman, fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Baby boomers, long the industry’s most reliable customers, are aging out of peak drinking years.
    — Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of reliable
Verb
  • Two and a half centuries of American history call us to support men and women of character--leaders who love this country enough to defend timeless truths even when doing so may not get more votes.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The Oilers, the two-time defending conference champs, were picked by many to occupy the perch that the Ducks currently hold.
    — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of defend

Browse Nearby Words

seculars
secure
secured
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Cite this Entry

“Secure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secure. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on secure

Nglish: Translation of secure for Spanish Speakers

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