as in reliable
not likely to fail
pizza seems like a surefire choice for a food that everyone at the party will be happy with
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Recent Examples of surefire
After all, even repeating the consensus of the time is far from a surefire way of looking clever in 25 years, because various elements of the sport where there was a broad agreement about the direction of travel have proved misguided.
—
Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
With Mickey, friends, and a clubhouse packed full of surprises, this playset is a surefire hit for little Disney fans.
—Emily Glover, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
Having double standards for players is a surefire way to lose the locker room.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Constantly blaming others when mistakes are made, or obstacles arise, is a surefire sign that someone doesn’t have emotional intelligence — a trait with a strong correlation to workplace success — according to bestselling authors and communication experts Kathy and Ross Petras.
—Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surefire
Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
With Mickey, friends, and a clubhouse packed full of surprises, this playset is a surefire hit for little Disney fans.
—Emily Glover, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
Having double standards for players is a surefire way to lose the locker room.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Constantly blaming others when mistakes are made, or obstacles arise, is a surefire sign that someone doesn’t have emotional intelligence — a trait with a strong correlation to workplace success — according to bestselling authors and communication experts Kathy and Ross Petras.
—Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for surefire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surefire
Adjective
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Chaco is known for making great hiking sandals, and its boots are sure to be just as durable and reliable with the same heavy-duty outsole and comfortable footbed for walking long distances.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
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In just the past decade, late-night shows’ bookings—a reliable rite of passage for musical artists on the edge of a breakthrough—have dropped significantly, to barely 200 performances in 2023.—
Jonathan Garrett,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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American leaders may be all-in on fossil fuels, but the rest of the world isn’t so sure.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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How to find your polling location Not sure where to go to vote?—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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For a fail-safe choice, go for a white fabric liner constructed of polyester, canvas, or other natural fiber iterations (that are either mildew-resistant, water-repellent, and/or machine washable).—
Shivani Vyas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Nov. 2025
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An artist having a deeply real moment — or three minutes’ worth of moments — in a show otherwise characterized by an hour and a half of abject professionalism and fail-safe show-biz prowess?—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surefire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surefire. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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