Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun fail-safe

1 sense of fail-safe

Sense 1
fail-safe -- (a mechanism capable of returning to a safe state in case there is a failure or malfunction)
       => mechanism -- (device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function)

Antonyms of adj fail-safe

2 senses of fail-safe

Sense 1
fail-safe -- (guaranteed not to fail; "a fail-safe recipe for cheese souffle")

INDIRECT (VIA secure) -> insecure, unsafe -- (lacking in security or safety; "his fortune was increasingly insecure"; "an insecure future")

Sense 2
fail-safe -- (eliminating danger by compensating automatically for a failure or malfunction; "a fail-safe device in a nuclear weapon to deactivate it automatically in the event of accident")

INDIRECT (VIA safe) -> dangerous, unsafe -- (involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm; "a dangerous criminal"; "a dangerous bridge"; "unemployment reached dangerous proportions")

Similarity of adj fail-safe

2 senses of fail-safe

Sense 1
fail-safe -- (guaranteed not to fail; "a fail-safe recipe for cheese souffle")
       => secure (vs. insecure) -- (free from danger or risk; "secure from harm"; "his fortune was secure"; "made a secure place for himself in his field")

Sense 2
fail-safe -- (eliminating danger by compensating automatically for a failure or malfunction; "a fail-safe device in a nuclear weapon to deactivate it automatically in the event of accident")
       => safe (vs. dangerous) -- (free from danger or the risk of harm; "a safe trip"; "you will be safe here"; "a safe place"; "a safe bet")