1
as in challenged
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat
I dare you to repeat that to my face! he dared his friend to race to the end of the block
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in confronted
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage
every day the old fisherman dared the elements to make his meager living
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of dared
But Cal Baptist closed that curtain and dared someone else — anyone else — to score a bucket.
—
Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Hadi sometimes emerged to buy provisions or to visit his friends, who occasionally dared to gather in kitchens, on rooftops, or in basement shelters.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Putin does not respect his voters and does not want to listen to them, Remeslo wrote, adding that the Russian leader has wiped out opposition, and that anyone who has dared to speak out is either in exile or dead.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Jayden Bogle and James Justin even dared to offer an attacking threat down the flanks in the 5-3-1 shape Farke adopted.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
On Wednesday, a Thai cargo ship that dared to cross the strait was struck by a projectile .
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
In recent years, stars have dared to bare a little more skin on the Oscars red carpet.
—Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 14 Mar. 2026
Dissent is harshly punished in Iran, as demonstrated earlier this year when the regime killed thousands of protesters who dared to challenge its rule.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
The First Cracks For the following three decades, only two players, Rogelio Alvarez and Barbaro Garbey, dared to leave.
—Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Hadi sometimes emerged to buy provisions or to visit his friends, who occasionally dared to gather in kitchens, on rooftops, or in basement shelters.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Putin does not respect his voters and does not want to listen to them, Remeslo wrote, adding that the Russian leader has wiped out opposition, and that anyone who has dared to speak out is either in exile or dead.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Jayden Bogle and James Justin even dared to offer an attacking threat down the flanks in the 5-3-1 shape Farke adopted.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
On Wednesday, a Thai cargo ship that dared to cross the strait was struck by a projectile .
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
In recent years, stars have dared to bare a little more skin on the Oscars red carpet.
—Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 14 Mar. 2026
Dissent is harshly punished in Iran, as demonstrated earlier this year when the regime killed thousands of protesters who dared to challenge its rule.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
The First Cracks For the following three decades, only two players, Rogelio Alvarez and Barbaro Garbey, dared to leave.
—Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
Verb
-
The court’s comments came from a case brought by the Miami Herald that challenged keeping a portion of a grand jury’s report secret.—
Lawrence Mower,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Perez challenged a 94 mph fastball thrown by Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans in the fourth inning.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The prosecutor said Abril confronted the couple, at which point James MacEgan was shot and killed, before Abril grabbed MacEgan’s wife and pulled her into the creek.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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The sheriff said the child's father later confronted Duggar about the incidents on March 17 and the reality TV alum admitted to his actions to law enforcement in the city of Tontitown in northern Washington County, Arkansas.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In June 2025, he was finally charged with Lynn's attack and faced a life sentence for each of the additional crimes he was now charged with.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Steyer faced questions about his offshore investments before.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But many Syrian Kurds — as well as Kurds from Iran and Turkey — braved the risk of rockets and torrential rain to come to Akre to participate in this key expression of Kurdish identity.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The Statesman braved the wind and 30-degree temperature swings for seven straight days.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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