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Definition of surenext
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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

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sure

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sure contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sure are certain, cocksure, and positive. While all these words mean "having no doubt or uncertainty," sure usually stresses the subjective or intuitive feeling of assurance.

felt sure that I had forgotten something

When is certain a more appropriate choice than sure?

In some situations, the words certain and sure are roughly equivalent. However, certain may apply to a basing of a conclusion or conviction on definite grounds or indubitable evidence.

police are certain about the cause of the fire

When would cocksure be a good substitute for sure?

The words cocksure and sure can be used in similar contexts, but cocksure implies presumptuous or careless positiveness.

you're always so cocksure about everything

Where would positive be a reasonable alternative to sure?

The synonyms positive and sure are sometimes interchangeable, but positive intensifies sureness or certainty and may imply opinionated conviction or forceful expression of it.

I'm positive that's the person I saw

How does the adjective sure contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sure are certain, cocksure, and positive. While all these words mean "having no doubt or uncertainty," sure usually stresses the subjective or intuitive feeling of assurance.

felt sure that I had forgotten something

When is certain a more appropriate choice than sure?

In some situations, the words certain and sure are roughly equivalent. However, certain may apply to a basing of a conclusion or conviction on definite grounds or indubitable evidence.

police are certain about the cause of the fire

When would cocksure be a good substitute for sure?

The words cocksure and sure can be used in similar contexts, but cocksure implies presumptuous or careless positiveness.

you're always so cocksure about everything

Where would positive be a reasonable alternative to sure?

The synonyms positive and sure are sometimes interchangeable, but positive intensifies sureness or certainty and may imply opinionated conviction or forceful expression of it.

I'm positive that's the person I saw

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
Adjective
The first book in Kipness’ Kate Green series, Lights Out follows a former Olympic athlete and sports reporter who isn’t sure how much more tumultuous her life can get. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026 That be fuckin’ me up for sure. Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
Adverb
And sure, in 2024, a slightly larger field would have included a very fun Indiana State team. Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026 For a behind-the-scenes enterprise software company, Oracle sure knows how to get in the news. Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sure
Adjective
  • Regardless of whether the debt is fraudulent, that check can provide a more confident understanding of what’s going on.
    William Tong, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The athlete himself also has a confident gait—still lanky and long-limbed in that teenage way, but assured.
    Nick Remsen, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • But in recent years, Iran has enriched uranium to 60%, beyond the levels necessary for most non-military uses.
    Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • According to court filings in the Eastern District of Virginia, the feds said the raid was a necessary part of an investigation into government leaks.
    BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • And while Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark serve as one of the better defensive tackle duos in the league and Otito Ogbonnia provides reliable depth, having another quality, reliable player in the middle may end up being necessary as well.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
  • With increasing demand for modern defense systems worldwide, investments like this expansion are considered essential for maintaining reliable production and supply.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • How to Spot the Next One Before sharing a story that sounds too absurd to be true, check the source page.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
  • That’s particularly true in the world of elite prep schools, which sometimes cost nearly $100,000 per year and often give athletic aid.
    Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Such evidence is key in assessing responsibility for a strike, and without it, assessments cannot be conclusive.
    Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
  • As of Saturday night, after Maxey took that nasty spill in the waning moments of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 125-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, there wasn’t anything conclusive on his status.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • With a lot of pressure on A&M to perform after a down year in 2025, relying on a true freshman at a critical position is definitely a gamble.
    Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
  • That said, the clear majority of your training–definitely greater than 50%–should be done at a slow pace, Hamilton says.
    Jenny McCoy, SELF, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The device was developed by scientists at Rice University and relies on bacteria that naturally produce electrical signals in response to certain chemicals, known as analytes.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Those of us of a certain age know that the exact same thing happened when Wilt scored 100 in 1962.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The problem isn’t that the character dies — that much was inevitable — but that she’s so casually eliminated.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Echoing that sense of transition, award-winning filmmaker and AI creative director Uli Gaulke framed the shift as both inevitable and transformative.
    Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sure. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

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