as in lock
one that is certain to succeed
since he was trying his first case, the assistant district attorney was assigned a burglary case that was a slam dunk
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Recent Examples of slam dunk
Fresh off winning the slam dunk competition at All-Star weekend, forward Keshad Johnson missed practice with a calf injury.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
The slam dunk contest, with a two-round format featuring four contestants, will cap Saturday’s festivities.
—Dan Loumena, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Even at the slam dunk competition.
—Kevin Sherrington
feb. 10, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
At the time, the move wasn’t immediately obvious as a slam dunk.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slam dunk
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
The slam dunk contest, with a two-round format featuring four contestants, will cap Saturday’s festivities.
—Dan Loumena, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Even at the slam dunk competition.
—Kevin Sherrington
feb. 10, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
At the time, the move wasn’t immediately obvious as a slam dunk.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slam dunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slam dunk
Noun
-
Just like most portable lock boxes, this one is secured with a three-digit code and comes with a lengthy adjustable steel cable that can’t be cut or broken.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
-
An operator locks in on the drone using an ordinary X-Box controller.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The only sure thing at safety still on the roster is up-and-coming third-year player Cole Bishop, who was one of the team’s best defenders in the second half of the season.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Chalamet, while Marty’s best bet, has lately looked like less of a sure thing, while a win for Byrne would be a pleasant surprise in a race that pundits long ago ceded to Hamnet’s Jessie Buckley.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Historical paintings don’t come with certificates; experts are increasingly hesitant to express complete certainty, for fear of litigation or reputational damage should they be proven wrong.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
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In the maelstrom of modern war, presumed certainties crumble like piecrust.—
George F. Will,
Washington Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slam dunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slam%20dunk. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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