SUREFIRE Synonyms: 14 Similar and Opposite Words

surefire

adjective

ˈshu̇r-ˈfī(-ə)r

Definition of surefire

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 surefire At this French Open, there are two surefire ways of seeing that Hailey Baptiste is on the rise. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 24 May 2026 Judge is one of the biggest names in Major League Baseball and a surefire future Hall of Famer. — Jaylon Thompson may 26, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026 Yet, forcing employees to use AI to do more work isn’t the uncomplicated, surefire route to success it’s made out to be. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 7 May 2026 If Quaintance had been fully healthy for Kentucky, there’s a world where the 6-9 big man with a 7-5 wingspan might have been a surefire lottery selection. — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for surefire

Recent Examples of Synonyms for surefire

Adjective

Andrews, a lifelong resident of Red Hook Houses West, said the community has waited long enough for a reliable pool.

— Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 2 July 2026
No reliable figures are available for battlefield casualties in the war.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of reliable

Adjective

More the former than the latter, sure, but both men are not overly pleased at the way they’re being treated.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Although astronomers are pretty sure there is a neutron star in the heart of the remnant based on indirect evidence, no pulsar radio emissions have yet been detected.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of sure

Adjective

Linen Bermuda shorts and wedge sandals are a fail-safe combination that’s not only fashionable but also embodies the spirit of summer with effortless elegance.

— René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 14 June 2026
In response, energy companies and shippers are exploring options that could involve billions of dollars in investment in new pipelines, port expansions, and alternative (though hardly fail-safe) routes through the Red Sea.

— Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2026

Definition of fail-safe

Browse Nearby Words

sure-enough

surefire

sure-footed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Surefire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surefire. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of surefire

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes