as in lock
one that is certain to succeed
he's a sure thing for the promotion: he's the most qualified candidate by far
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Recent Examples of sure thing
Of course, the genre dictates that a seemingly sure thing be vexed, and this rom-com is no different.
—
Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
From the 2025 tariff regime to general political uncertainty, the only sure thing is that nothing is certain.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Looking back through the records, Warr found that the majority of medalists hadn’t looked like sure things at age 12, even as every lever in the system was tuned to favor those who did.
—Rachel Barr, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Each year, certain movies and awards contenders eventually emerge and sure things for Oscar nominations, others are probable, and another few are battling it out for the final spot on a list of five (or 10 in the case of Best Picture).
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sure thing
Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
From the 2025 tariff regime to general political uncertainty, the only sure thing is that nothing is certain.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Looking back through the records, Warr found that the majority of medalists hadn’t looked like sure things at age 12, even as every lever in the system was tuned to favor those who did.
—Rachel Barr, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Each year, certain movies and awards contenders eventually emerge and sure things for Oscar nominations, others are probable, and another few are battling it out for the final spot on a list of five (or 10 in the case of Best Picture).
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sure thing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sure thing
Noun
-
Uptown and downtown offer an exciting lifestyle, especially for residents looking for a secure, lock-and-leave home.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
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People in the shelter-in-place area were told to go and stay indoors, close and lock windows and doors, and turn off HVAC and air-conditioning systems, according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office.—
Cheryl Vari,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Styles would be a slam dunk to drop in the middle of the defense, despite rookie linebacker issues last season.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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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
Noun
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His certainty was expressed despite the fact his family is exploring a sale of the team, which could be completed by the start of the 2026 season.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
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But permitting moves too slowly, regulatory timelines stretch indefinitely, and long-term certainty remains absent.—
Suzette Valladares,
Oc Register,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sure thing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sure%20thing. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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