Sure Synonyms | Uses & Examples
Sure is an adjective that means “confident” or “true without doubt,” and an adverb meaning “without any question.”
Some synonyms for sure are:
- Confident
- Certain
- Assured
- Positive
- Undoubtable
- Indisputable
- Conclusive
- Undeniable
- Irrefutable
- Definitely
- Certainly
- Surely
- Clearly
For more synonyms for sure, use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser.
Sure synonyms
When sure means “confident,” some synonyms are stronger matches than others. Weaker synonyms may carry certain connotations (e.g., “convinced” implies you believe something to be true) or not be appropriate in all contexts (e.g., “steady” is mostly used to refer to physical confidence).
| Match | Synonym | Sure example | Synonym example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongest | Confident | The lawyer seems sure about the defense. | The lawyer seems confident about the defense. |
| Certain | It’s a holiday; are you sure the buses are running? | It’s a holiday; are you certain the buses are running? | |
| Assured | Rachel is sure their team will win, but Michael is skeptical. | Rachel is assured their team will win, but Michael is skeptical. | |
| Positive | I’m sure that “guapo” means handsome in Spanish. | I’m positive that “guapo” means handsome in Spanish. | |
| Strong | Convinced | Nat is sure it was her neighbor who trampled her roses. | Nat is convinced it was her neighbor who trampled her roses. |
| Decided | Sabrina considered her options carefully and she’s sure this is the best one. | Sabrina considered her options carefully and she’s decided this is the best one. | |
| Weak | Steady | The surgeon has a very sure hand. | The surgeon has a very steady hand. |
| Solid | We have a sure strategy for the pitch. | We have a solid strategy for the pitch. |
When sure means “true without doubt,” stronger synonyms are good overall replacements, while weaker synonyms are not. “Undisputed” means “not argued,” and “hands down” means “easy” or “decisive.”
| Match | Synonym | Sure example | Synonym example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongest | Certain | She’s sure to win the election. | She’s certain to win the election. |
| Undoubtable | That’s a sure sign of progress. | That’s an undoubtable sign of progress. | |
| Indisputable | It’s a sure fact that February is the second month of the year. | It’s an indisputable fact that February is the second month of the year. | |
| Conclusive | The DNA results were sure proof of who the culprit was. | The DNA results were conclusive proof of who the culprit was. | |
| Undeniable | The results point to a sure problem. | The results point to an undeniable problem. | |
| Irrefutable | There’s sure evidence that Dan was there. | There’s irrefutable evidence that Dan was there. | |
| Strong | Decisive | Leila’s performance gave a sure answer to critics. | Leila’s performance gave a decisive answer to critics. |
| Absolute | The physicist has sure faith that life exists on other planets. | The physicist has absolute faith that life exists on other planets. | |
| Weak | Undisputed | Naia was the sure winner of the day. | Naia was the undisputed winner of the day. |
| Hands-down | It’s a sure win if we play like we did last time. | It’s a hands-down win if we play like we did last time. |
- Inevitable
- Assured
- Bound
- Guaranteed
- Inescapable
For example, “Manchester are sure to win” or “Manchester are bound to win.”
As an adverb, sure is mostly used informally in American English. All the synonyms below are strong matches, although the placement of sure and its synonym may change in each sentence.
| Match | Synonym | Sure example | Synonym example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongest | Definitely | We sure could use your help. | We could definitely use your help. |
| Certainly | Diana sure knows how to make an impression. | Diana certainly knows how to make an impression. | |
| Surely | We sure didn’t expect that result. | We surely didn’t expect that result. | |
| Clearly | Paul sure was upset about the news. | Paul was clearly upset about the news. |
A few synonyms for sure with this meaning are:
- Yeah
- Definitely
- Absolutely
- For sure
- Of course
Make sure synonyms
Make sure is a phrasal verb that means “to ensure that something is true, correct, or that it happens as intended.” Weak synonyms require light sentence rewrites.
| Match | Synonym | Sure example | Synonym example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongest | Ensure | Make sure the painters use the right color of paint in the bedroom. | Ensure the painters use the right color of paint in the bedroom. |
| Confirm | I’ll make sure we’re traveling in the right direction. | I’ll confirm we’re travelling in the right direction. | |
| Verify | The engineers made sure that the airplane was fit to fly. | The engineers verified that the airplane was fit to fly. | |
| Double-check | Make sure that you packed pajamas. | Double-check that you packed pajamas. | |
| Strong | Check | Make sure that the buses are running before you go to the stop. | Check that the buses are running before you go to the stop. |
| Guarantee | We must make sure we are prepared, just in case. | We must guarantee we are prepared, just in case. | |
| Weak | Assure | I’ll make sure that Laura gets your message. | I assure you that Laura will get your message. |
| Secure | Make sure your account is protected. | Secure your account so that it is protected. | |
| Substantiate | Make sure your arguments are supported by facts. | Substantiate your arguments with facts. |
Frequently asked questions about sure synonym
- What’s a synonym for for sure?
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Some synonyms for “for sure” are:
- Definitely
- Certainly
- Absolutely
- Without a doubt
- Of course
- Sure thing
These overlap with the synonyms for sure as an adverb.
You can find more synonyms for “for sure” using QuillBot’s free Paraphraser.
- What’s a synonym for not sure?
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Synonyms for “not sure” include:
- Unsure
- Uncertain
- Doubtful
- Hesitant
- Indecisive
- Unclear
- Insecure
- Confused
To form more synonyms for the adjective “not sure,” you can put the word “not” in front of one of the synonyms for sure or use QuillBot’s Paraphraser.
- What’s a synonym for sure thing?
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Some synonyms for “sure thing” are:
- Cinch
- Lock
- Slam dunk
- Shoo-in
- Inevitability
- Foregone conclusion
To form more synonyms for “sure thing,” use synonyms for sure with “thing,” or use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser.
