SURE-FOOTED Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

sure-footed

adjective

Definition of sure-footed

as in adroit

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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-footed Bring waterproof, sure-footed shoes — while the hike isn’t particularly treacherous, the trail can get slick. — New York Times, 4 June 2026 The outsole’s sturdy rubber grip kept him sure-footed, and the shoes remained comfortable even after an afternoon of exploring a medieval city on foot. — Mary Beth Skylis, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026 If Kyle Tucker had been a little more sure-footed on a line drive over his head to lead off the second inning, Yamamoto might have had a perfect-game bid going into the sixth. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026 And, as the past few weeks have shown, attitudes have a way of overshooting and eventually throwing investors off-balance, even in what’s generally been a sure-footed bull market. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 29 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sure-footed

Adjective

Norway’s options are now abundant, and often adroit and inventive, too.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Today, especially for digitally adroit customers, opening a new account with a neobank offering a better APR is seamless.

— Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 7 May 2026

Definition of adroit

Adjective

Optimus stands 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall, weighs about 160 pounds (73 kg), features more than 40 degrees of freedom, and uses highly dexterous 11-degree-of-freedom hands designed to perform human-like tasks.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026
The forepaws of raccoon are extremely dexterous and sensitive, and occupy a large portion of their brain’s motor cortex, like that of people.

— Kelly Lambert, The Conversation, 23 July 2026

Definition of dexterous

Adjective

Tielemans is not the most fleet-footed, but neither can he be allowed much of a head-start.

— Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
As with any Morris documentary, Chaos is clear-eyed and fleet-footed, balancing multiple perspectives and challenging its subjects.

— Randall Colburn, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2025

Definition of fleet-footed

Adjective

The ball landed in the middle of the six-yard box, on the head of fellow young defender Ian Togo, but the American’s deft header went wide.

— George Edwards, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Zidane played 108 games for France scoring 31 goals, including a deft Panenka-style penalty in the 2006 World Cup final, which Les Bleus lost after he was sent off in extra time for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026

Definition of deft

Adjective

They are intended to provide underserved and minority youth with academic, social and athletic opportunities through baseball and softball.

— Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
Completed last month, the building can be viewed either as a bold statement of athletic ambition or a monument to misplaced priorities.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of athletic

Adjective

Director John Woo brings a balletic style that exudes confidence and flair, particularly in the stunning one-take hospital shootout sequence.

— Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Italy was leading 1–0 when, in the 78th minute, Baggio exchanged passes with teammate Giuseppe Giannini, drifted through Czechoslovakia’s defense with balletic control, and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.

— Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 June 2026

Definition of balletic

Browse Nearby Words

surefire

sure-footed

sure-footedness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sure-footed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sure-footed. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of sure-footed

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

sultry

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes