1
as in confident
having or showing a mind free from doubt
are you absolutely sure that she said she was coming today?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in necessary
impossible to avoid or evade
the joke's a sure dud if you don't pause in the right places
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reliable
not likely to fail
a sure cure for the winter blues—a week in the Bahamas
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in true
worthy of one's trust
a sister is a sure friend for life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in conclusive
not capable of being challenged or proved wrong
no sure evidence that life exists on other planets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in definitely
without any question
we sure could use your help here
Synonyms & Similar 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
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025
The replay lasted more than six minutes, and the nice people of Winnipeg are only too sure they were robbed.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2025
Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 17 Apr. 2025
But the Little Monsters fan base sure got its money’s worth, with a show that managed — in truest Gaga fashion — to be equal parts bizarro and sentimental.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sure
Adjective
Prosecutors aren’t sure which man cut down the tree and which one filmed the video.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025
The replay lasted more than six minutes, and the nice people of Winnipeg are only too sure they were robbed.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2025
Adverb
Get a first look at Feldman’s character below — Pete sure is happy about Kyle’s visit!
—Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 17 Apr. 2025
But the Little Monsters fan base sure got its money’s worth, with a show that managed — in truest Gaga fashion — to be equal parts bizarro and sentimental.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sure
Adjective
-
The big story Just a week after a breakthrough in U.S.-China trade tensions, neither side can yet be confident that the other is holding up their end of the bargain.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
-
The club, for their part, are confident they will be granted entry.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
Constant vigilance is necessary because drownings can happen within minutes, and young children especially can wander off or duck out of sight quickly.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
-
This might mean caps on unlimited PTO during certain times of year, or that advance approval is necessary.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
At a time when trust in institutions is declining, access to reliable information feels harder to come by, and the need for noncommercial, high-quality early-childhood content is greater than ever, public media stands apart as a vital and unifying source.—
Mark G. Contreras,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2025
-
And huge parts of the city struggle with high unemployment, rampant violent crime and a lack of adequate housing and reliable services.—
Tommy Trenchard,
NPR,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
The Johnny King Buck In 2006, Wisconsin deer hunter Johnny King shot what some folks believe is the true world-record typical whitetail.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
15 May 2025
-
The coloration of light in this image does not depict a true optical rainbow as would be seen by the naked eye, but rather a colored representation of different wavelengths of light that highlight the instrument's capability to analyze various components of the solar atmosphere.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
Perhaps the most conclusive evidence assembled has been the 800 page report and interactive digital platform by experts at Forensic Architecture.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
-
The filmmakers are never conclusive about Enzo’s burgeoning sexuality nor his plans for the future, and that’s clearly by design.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2025
Adverb
-
Vanuatu definitely plays better on a modern-day viewing when contrasted against how kumbaya new-school seasons have been (at least until Survivor 46).—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
15 May 2025
-
Me, my life, elements of my music and most definitely the world.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
What is Valley fever? Valley fever is a lung infection caused by breathing in spores from Coccidioides, a fungus that lives in the soil and dust in certain regions of the United States and the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
-
The frontcourt, on the other hand, is less certain.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
When a streaming service pays a premium up front but keeps all future revenue, writers lose the financial upside that once sustained careers through inevitable dry spells.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2025
-
The generative AI boom in healthcare feels inevitable.—
Amber Nigam,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sure. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share