fail-safe 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfāl-ˌsāf How to pronounce fail-safe (audio)
Definition of fail-safenext
as in reliable
not likely to fail flowers have been traditionally regarded as the fail-safe gift for Valentine's Day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fail-safe

2 of 2

noun

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

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 fail-safe
Adjective
Adding even a blandly effective, third-pair option would be a playoff nice fail-safe. — Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026 This suggests gaps in contingency planning and basic fail-safe design. — Missy Cummings, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
Trump’s fail-safe failed to safe. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026 This fail-safe can help, so don’t ignore a warning. — Jason Fogelson, AJC.com, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail-safe
  1. reliable
  2. precaution
  3. surefire
  4. preventive
  5. infallible
Adjective
  • Demand planning capabilities on the Blue Yonder Platform utilize patented algorithms and advanced machine learning models to ensure that demand forecasting is not only highly accurate, but reliable.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Later reports would place the bear’s weight as high as 600 pounds, but the most reliable estimates were less than 250.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of reliable
Noun
  • Now a 6-year-old girl and a grandmother are both being treated for rabies as a precaution.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The children, who police believe are Moore’s, were taken to a children’s hospital as a precaution and will undergo forensic interviews as the investigation continues.
    — Adam England, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of precaution
Adjective
  • 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
  • If this sounds familiar, that’s because this is a surefire case of de ja vu.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Definition of surefire
Noun
  • In addition to making anti-vaccine comments, Kennedy also downplayed pediatric deaths related to measles and touted false cures and preventives, such as the use of vitamin A.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of preventive
Adjective
  • Roberts is careful to note artificially intelligent algorithms like the type deployed by Exiger are not infallible.
    — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • These words are also coming from a former priest, a man the world is taught to believe is infallible simply because of his profession.
    — Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of infallible

Browse Nearby Words

fails
fail-safe
fail-safes
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Cite this Entry

“Fail-safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail-safe. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fail-safe

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fail-safe

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