as in reliable
not likely to fail
flowers have been traditionally regarded as the fail-safe gift for Valentine's Day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in precaution
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury
there are so many fail-safes built into the system that a highly unlikely series of mistakes would have to be made before failure could occur
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fail-safe
Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Nov. 2025
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
New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2026
The new robotic system eliminates these human vulnerabilities, offering a stable, fail-safe alternative that protects doctors from long-term radiation exposure.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Adjective
At this time, there is no fail-safe way for creators to determine if AI companies have used their work to train models, which can violate copyrights of the works of countless artists.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Nov. 2025
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
Noun
The firewall is a fail-safe, as batteries are expected to operate well below 150 °C (302 °F).
—New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2026
The new robotic system eliminates these human vulnerabilities, offering a stable, fail-safe alternative that protects doctors from long-term radiation exposure.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail-safe
Adjective
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Julian Champagnie took over Harrison Barnes’ starting spot in San Antonio and has been an athletic upgrade who is durable and reliable while providing accurate volume shooting.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Each of these shifts depend on market data that is reliable, licensed and machine-readable in ways legacy infrastructure was not built to deliver.—
Mike Cahill,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Just be sure to follow the directions and take proper safety precautions to avoid breathing in the spray.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
McCoy went from surefire first-rounder to the first pick of the fourth round because of concerns over a possible degenerative knee condition.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Downs was a surefire player coming out of high school.—
Jon Machota,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Padlocks, sickles and other objects made of iron, a metal said to possess anti-demonic powers, were stashed in the grave as preventives.—
Franz Lidz,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2023
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But although human vaccines function primarily as preventives, offering immunity to animals such as black-footed ferrets can be a conservation strategy of last resort.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2023
Adjective
-
Similar to human drivers, Zoox's AI and safety systems aren't infallible, but the test ride vehicle didn't exhibit any odd behaviors that seemed problematic or scary for occupants.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
-
The presumption that my doctor was infallible.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fail-safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail-safe. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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