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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

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
Not sure if that counts for anything. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026 The arch of Mackenzie Blackwood’s eyebrow was as sharp and sure as the razor in his hand. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
Adverb
What once was a dusty little desert ghost town sure has grown up, but the facility has remained leading edge. Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026 Emily Ratakowski sure knows how to rock a killer look—even when that killer look almost falls apart on her body. Meg Walters, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sure
Adjective
  • Even though the application of arts to the treatment of childhood type 1 diabetes cannot make the disease or the mental attention necessary for its treatment go away, the arts can help to make children with diabetes more confident and comfortable within their skin.
    Elizabeth McClure, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Drawing inspiration from the aesthetics of early 2000s R&B, Bad Gyal captures not only visuals but also sound, conveying her confident, flirtatious energy while paying tribute to the era that significantly influenced her.
    Ingrid Fajardo, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The unlawful taking of any part or accessory affixed to the interior or exterior of a motor vehicle in a manner which would make the item an attachment of the vehicle or necessary for its operation.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Health care should not require patients to risk financial ruin in order to receive necessary treatment.
    Linda D. Gadd, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • And while Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark serve as one of the better defensive tackle duos in the league and Otito Ogbonnia provides reliable depth, having another quality, reliable player in the middle may end up being necessary as well.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
  • With increasing demand for modern defense systems worldwide, investments like this expansion are considered essential for maintaining reliable production and supply.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • To make money talks less tense, prioritize choices that reflect your true worth.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
  • That has certainly been true of artificial intelligence.
    Rebecca Winthrop, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Such evidence is key in assessing responsibility for a strike, and without it, assessments cannot be conclusive.
    Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
  • As of Saturday night, after Maxey took that nasty spill in the waning moments of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 125-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, there wasn’t anything conclusive on his status.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • The most eye-catching part, however, is definitely a large flower made of fabric that sprouts out of the shoulder.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Coming off the bench for Leo and stepping onto the court on the big stage at state, Elon Henderson definitely felt some nerves.
    Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The device was developed by scientists at Rice University and relies on bacteria that naturally produce electrical signals in response to certain chemicals, known as analytes.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Those of us of a certain age know that the exact same thing happened when Wilt scored 100 in 1962.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Some of this is inevitable — the original cadre of settlers who remember fleeing to the island with the hope of retaking the mainland has all but died off.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
  • In doing so, Jones gives the novel the same sense of inevitable tragedy that animates Wharton’s books.
    Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sure. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

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