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Definition of surenext
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as in reliable
not likely to fail a sure cure for the winter blues—a week in the Bahamas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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sure

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sure contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sure are certain, cocksure, and positive. While all these words mean "having no doubt or uncertainty," sure usually stresses the subjective or intuitive feeling of assurance.

felt sure that I had forgotten something

When is certain a more appropriate choice than sure?

In some situations, the words certain and sure are roughly equivalent. However, certain may apply to a basing of a conclusion or conviction on definite grounds or indubitable evidence.

police are certain about the cause of the fire

When would cocksure be a good substitute for sure?

The words cocksure and sure can be used in similar contexts, but cocksure implies presumptuous or careless positiveness.

you're always so cocksure about everything

Where would positive be a reasonable alternative to sure?

The synonyms positive and sure are sometimes interchangeable, but positive intensifies sureness or certainty and may imply opinionated conviction or forceful expression of it.

I'm positive that's the person I saw

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 sure
Adjective
Less than a week had passed since his sure gold medal had turned into a disastrous eighth-place finish, and so much had already changed for Ilia Malinin. Les Carpenter, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2026 Valor mom Destiny Barreras isn't sure how to feel about the policy. Olivia Young, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Her dad, Charlie, was quite a character but sure knew how to cook. Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026 Fittingly for a woman starring in a film called Couture, Angelina Jolie sure is dressing the part. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sure
Adjective
  • When the product delivers clear value and distinctive experiences at sea and ashore, travel agents feel confident recommending the brand.
    Adam Goldstein, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
  • This Elvis comes across confident, breezy, comfortable and funny.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Some speculation has existed about whether the basic physiological processes necessary for intercourse, particularly for men, might be compromised by microgravity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Efficiently developing mineral sites is necessary for Africa’s own industrialization, infrastructure expansion, food security, and energy systems, AFC argued.
    Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Yet there are realities of life without constant and reliable electricity beyond evenings by candlelight.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 24 Feb. 2026
  • The second focuses on inclusion with companies committing to strengthening testing and evaluation of AI systems across underrepresented languages and cultural contexts, especially in the Global South, so that frontier AI models become more reliable and accessible beyond English‑speaking markets.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Easy but exciting paths that felt like true tree lines to them.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Summing up the whole picture is impossible, and attempting to do it requires treading carefully, so as to maintain important boundaries between what is definitely true and what seems likely or merely speculative.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Meta and other tech firms have argued there’s no conclusive evidence linking social media to addiction or mental health problems.
    Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Although the pills were never sent to the state crime lab for conclusive testing, the defense seemed to suggest more should have been done to see if Sade's murder was really connected to those drugs.
    Lauren A. White, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • The sexy space holds just 20 seats at the bar, and definitely pop into the antique confessional in the back for a photo opp.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
  • With notes of caramel, cooked sugar, and butter, this syrup is definitely sweet and would most likely pair well with breakfast staples like pancakes, French toast, or waffles.
    Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • There are still weeks to go in the trial, and its outcome is far from certain.
    Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Investigators can use certain databases to look for a match with a suspect or that person's relatives.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Here are the sober facts, along with the best alternative scenarios that could avoid this seemingly inevitable fate.
    Big Think, Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Many residents don’t deny that, under such extreme conditions and after the fire reached a certain scale and ferocity, the destruction became inevitable — and there are many who would just like to move on from January 2025.
    Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sure. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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