safe 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsāf How to pronounce safe (audio)
Definition of safenext
1
as in secure
not exposed to the threat of loss or injury the minute the rain started, we looked for a place where we would be safe from a drenching downpour

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in protecting
providing safety we tried to find a safe place to hide our valuables while we went swimming

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uncontroversial
unlikely to provoke controversy or offense when chatting with strangers, she prefers to stick to safe topics such as the weather

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cautious
having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble rewarded safe drivers with lower insurance rates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt that pain reliever is safe for most people to take

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in reliable
worthy of one's trust she always offers safe advice

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

safe

2 of 2

noun

as in vault
a specially reinforced container to keep valuables safe the hotel recommended that we keep all our valuables in its safe during our stay

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 safe
Adjective
The pressure is becoming too much to bear, and one by one her circle of friends decamp to the only slightly safer environs of pre-war Paris. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 Enjoy the holiday weekend and stay safe, Sam Want to send Sam a note? — Sam Woodward, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
How to stay smoke-safe According to AccuWeather, people are encouraged to limit time outdoors amid the poor air quality, especially those in sensitive groups. — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 July 2026 There were no gun safes or locks found during a search of the home, per the outlet. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for safe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for safe
  1. secure
  2. uncontroversial
  3. cautious
  4. harmless
  5. reliable
  6. vault
  7. alright
  8. positive
Adjective
  • The department later confirmed that the area was secure and that no further threat to the public remained.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The Air Force expects Sentinel to provide a more effective, safe and secure ICBM capability well into the 2070s.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of secure
Adjective
  • The results indicate limited support for treating the simplest textbook version of the standard model as an uncontroversial consensus package.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But Makary enacted a lot of meaningful, uncontroversial reforms too.
    — Avik Roy, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of uncontroversial
Adjective
  • Florida’s Republican gubernatorial ticket is defying historic trends for a political party traditionally known for elevating white men to leadership positions — even as the GOP remains cautious about drawing attention to the shift.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Bindi, a young female wallaby, is inquisitive and extremely curious, while Wally, a young male wallaby, is more cautious and likes to look at things from afar, Borozenets said.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • Hay fever is defined as cold-like symptoms caused by an allergic response to a harmless outdoor and indoor substance the body identifies as harmful, according to the Mayo Clinic.
    — Ron Smiley, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Lynch’s massive draft whiffs feel like harmless clerical rounding errors next to his good work in handling all the off-the-field stuff that lands on his desk.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmless
Adjective
  • That capability matters because HAPS platforms must maintain a tight operating area to provide reliable coverage.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Central to this was the control exerted in central midfield, an area patrolled by Ben Whiteman and the ever-reliable Matty James.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of reliable
Noun
  • In the wake of Curry’s death, the Who Done It crew are begging Paramount to trawl its vaults and release the cut.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In true Joycean fashion, Ironweed wants both symbolism and naturalism, the elevated language of heaven’s vaults alongside the unadorned details of bodily filth.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of vault
Adjective
  • When looking for symptoms, anything can become suspect; and when comfort is sought, anything can look alright.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The kids are not alright, or even right in the head in Serbian drama 3 Weeks After.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2026
Definition of alright
Adjective
  • Though Rosado tested positive for a small amount of meth and had been going up to 90 mph, the evidence indicated that Rosado had fallen asleep and that his car drifted off the freeway before hitting a guardrail, Cherney said.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • His remarks later shifted toward perseverance and remaining positive through difficult circumstances.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of positive

Browse Nearby Words

safaris
safe
safecracker
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Cite this Entry

“Safe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/safe. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on safe

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about safe

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