sure-fire

ADJECTIVE

dependable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

foolproof

WEAK

certain excellent fail-safe good infallible reliable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The rotation is also shaky, with fragile Tyler Glasnow and aging Clayton Kershaw and underwhelming Roki Sasaki and injured Blake Snell and, really, just one sure-fire starter is Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2025

The problem, of course, is that this isn't a sure-fire solution and, if it was going to happen, it needed to happen fast.

From Salon • Jul. 17, 2024

So an Elder Scrolls take on the genre seemed, on paper, like a sure-fire hit to many.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2024

Environmental experts say one sure-fire way to reduce aviation emissions is to reduce how much we fly.

From National Geographic • Dec. 8, 2023

Then, as happens so often, the preacher turned over his hole-card, the sure-fire card.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck