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
Going out was no longer a surefire way to meet someone, and the dating apps that emerged within the attention economy didn’t guarantee meaningful connections either.
—
Fabio Bin, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2026
Facing a year with the most American measles cases in a generation, the president had suggested that there’s a problem with the only surefire prevention available and told parents to demand shots that don’t exist here.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
Cool completely: Putting hot soup directly into containers in the freezer is a surefire way to ensure harmful bacteria have a place to grow.
—Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 16 Mar. 2026
There's no surefire way to completely avoid car problems, but choosing a reliable car brand and a vehicle known for its dependability may save you from repair headaches down the line.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surefire
Fabio Bin, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2026
Facing a year with the most American measles cases in a generation, the president had suggested that there’s a problem with the only surefire prevention available and told parents to demand shots that don’t exist here.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
Cool completely: Putting hot soup directly into containers in the freezer is a surefire way to ensure harmful bacteria have a place to grow.
—Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 16 Mar. 2026
There's no surefire way to completely avoid car problems, but choosing a reliable car brand and a vehicle known for its dependability may save you from repair headaches down the line.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for surefire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surefire
Adjective
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The Giants became the first National League team to seven losses, and although 10 games is not a representative sample, there’s never a good time in a season for a team’s most reliable veterans to play sloppily or make decisions on tilt.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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These are not tools that belong in a corporate leader’s operational playbook, but products of necessity arising from the absence of reliable governance.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The state knew the problem was extensive, but wasn’t sure where the leaks were.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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Others aren’t so sure, pointing to the long hiatus, the off-screen turmoil and a television landscape that no longer moves in lockstep.—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Consider this the fail-safe way to make a statement during the colder months—a leopard-print coat that's both fiercely cool and classic.—
Andrea Cheng,
InStyle,
29 Dec. 2025
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Larry Anglisano, an aviation journalist for AVBrief, described Autoland as a fail-safe for when the airplane is in working order but the pilot might not be able to take control.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surefire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surefire. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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