Synonym Chooser

How is the word assure distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of assure are ensure, insure, and secure. While all these words mean "to make a thing or person sure," assure distinctively implies the removal of doubt and suspense from a person's mind.

I assure you that no harm will be done

How does the word ensure relate to other synonyms for assure?

Ensure, insure, and assure are interchangeable in many contexts where they indicate the making certain or inevitable of an outcome, but ensure may imply a virtual guarantee.

the government has ensured the safety of the refugees

Where would insure be a reasonable alternative to assure?

The synonyms insure and assure are sometimes interchangeable, but insure sometimes stresses the taking of necessary measures beforehand.

careful planning should insure the success of the party

In what contexts can secure take the place of assure?

In some situations, the words secure and assure are roughly equivalent. However, secure implies action taken to guard against attack or loss.

sent reinforcements to secure their position

Examples of assure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Joe had a few bullet points written down and assured his father he was prepared. Kelsey Conway, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024 Steve Soboroff and Randy Johnson, the Playa Vista developers who testified for the plaintiffs as expert witnesses and were then drafted by the judge as his housing gurus, had assured him that hundreds of modular units could be in place in 18 months. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024 Rest assured this won’t be a political article attempting to sway you toward any candidate. Steve Booren, The Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2024 Knight assures Ross that this is just part of the negotiator's playbook. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for assure 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near assure

Cite this Entry

“Assure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assure. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on assure

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!