as in reliable
not likely to fail
flowers have been traditionally regarded as the fail-safe gift for Valentine's Day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of fail-safe
wendy Wisner, Parents, 29 Aug. 2025
But if the human operator’s expertise must serve as a fail-safe to prevent catastrophe—guarding against edge cases or grabbing the controls if something breaks—then automation is failing to deliver on its promise.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Shop Now 10 Navy Blue In areas with strict historic guidelines, navy blue is often a fail-safe.
—Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 17 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Adjective
Takeaway Of course, there is no fail-safe or guarantee.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 29 Aug. 2025
But if the human operator’s expertise must serve as a fail-safe to prevent catastrophe—guarding against edge cases or grabbing the controls if something breaks—then automation is failing to deliver on its promise.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
The idea was to make bank oversight both stricter and more fail-safe.
—Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2023
Shop Now 10 Navy Blue In areas with strict historic guidelines, navy blue is often a fail-safe.
—Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 17 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fail-safe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fail-safe
Adjective
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But one reliable occupant, Spirit Halloween, has called it home for years.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Even with a tracker, a traditional collar remains a reliable option.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bulldogs coach Laura Schuler said Saturday that Gascon was pulled from Friday’s game as a precaution, and that evaluations Friday night and Saturday morning proved Gascon was 100% ready to return for Saturday’s game.—
Matt Wellens,
Twin Cities,
26 Oct. 2025
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As a precaution, the Browns elevated Zappe from the practice squad to the active roster in case Sanders is unable to suit up.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Their creation comes across as a death trap — or a surefire way to get tetanus, at the very least.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
-
After all, even repeating the consensus of the time is far from a surefire way of looking clever in 25 years, because various elements of the sport where there was a broad agreement about the direction of travel have proved misguided.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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But although human vaccines function primarily as preventives, offering immunity to animals such as black-footed ferrets can be a conservation strategy of last resort.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2023
Adjective
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Callers who are accustomed to infallible technology can be baffled by this.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
2 Oct. 2025
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While mobile boarding passes are a convenient and accessible way to have one of your most important travel documents at the ready, technology isn’t infallible.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fail-safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fail-safe. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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