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
Why give up on this season when next season is no sure thing either?
—
Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 26 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
Cattlemen’s Cafe looked and tasted tired, by most accounts, and the only sure thing was the sight of a rocking chair occupied by Wade out front.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2026
The one sure thing is that flu cases are on the rise nationwide, a trend that will persist throughout the holiday season.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sure thing
Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 26 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
Cattlemen’s Cafe looked and tasted tired, by most accounts, and the only sure thing was the sight of a rocking chair occupied by Wade out front.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2026
The one sure thing is that flu cases are on the rise nationwide, a trend that will persist throughout the holiday season.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
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
-
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
-
Ugg shoes are a slam dunk gift—the Scuffette II style in particular.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The products were such a slam dunk that the hair care brand has introduced more formats to meet customers where their damage is at.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 19 Feb. 2026.
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