How is the word insure distinct from other similar verbs?
Some common synonyms of insure are assure, ensure, and secure. While all these words mean "to make a thing or person sure," insure sometimes stresses the taking of necessary measures beforehand.
careful planning should insure the success of the party
When can assure be used instead of insure?
In some situations, the words assure and insure are roughly equivalent. However, assure distinctively implies the removal of doubt and suspense from a person's mind.
I assure you that no harm will be done
How is ensure related to other words for insure?
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
When is secure a more appropriate choice than insure?
The words secure and insure can be used in similar contexts, but secure implies action taken to guard against attack or loss.
sent reinforcements to secure their position
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insureThis time, Trump wants to insure that the power ministries are fully in his control.—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2025 And in both, the woman can only overcome that desire by indulging it, and doing so will insure her destruction and save everyone else.—Jim Shepard, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025 That helps explain why more than a fifth of the structures hit by the Pacific Palisades fire were insured under FAIR.—Stephen Mihm, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2025 In addition to insuring depositors, the FDIC supervises banks for safety and consumer protection.—Jason Lalljee, Axios, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insure
His hands-on approach ensures that every aspect of Purus—from operational strategies to marketing execution—is aligned with a clear vision of excellence.
—
Tyler Shepherd,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
This downtime is a routine process that Epic Games follows before launching major seasonal updates, ensuring new features, skins and map changes are implemented smoothly.
More than that, each team is guaranteed three playoff games.
—
Joseph Dycus,
The Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2025
This amendment, a product of the post-Civil War constitutional revolution, guaranteed that every person born within the United States would be guaranteed citizenship and all its rights.
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