dared

past tense of dare
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

Relevance
2

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 dared To get her father and his siblings to offer answers to questions no one had ever dared ask in the past until Duong’s cameras rolled, an inventive hybrid documentary-narrative model was hatched for the film. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026 In Cuba, for instance, the single format is dominant, and very few artists have dared to create a true concept album. — Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026 Fonda’s flawless silver pixie changed that, revealing his rare ability to transform gray hair from some something to be concealed into something to be expertly cultivated — a technique few colorists had dared to master. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026 Fashion collaborations have come a long way since Marc Jacobs worked with artists Stephen Sprouse and Takashi Murakami at Louis Vuitton in the early aughts, and since Karl Lagerfeld dared to partner up with H&M in 2004. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026 The liberal Yabloko party, the only registered political entity that dared to publicly criticize the war, was removed from the ballot last month by Russia’s Supreme Court, and only had a few dozen candidates in the single-seat races. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 Everyone then stayed on campus, and dared not explore the surrounding community. — Danny Mason, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026 Ultimately, the show attempts to draw a parallel between Lizzie Borden and Aileen Wuornos, portraying them as two women abused and mistreated by society who dared to fight back. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2026 This one is of a prison pharmacy technician who dared to risk everything for love. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
Verb
  • Ventura County prosecutors successfully challenged that decision, and Luster was denied parole again in April 2025.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Gaiser’s office could also get asked to provide legal advice if outcomes are challenged during and after next month’s midterms.
    — Perry Stein, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • At least one witness told cops the teen was smoking marijuana on the train when Rodriguez confronted him about it, sparking an argument, but police have since discounted that theory, sources said.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Seeman appeared to curse at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, and Hill confronted Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson after being inadvertently knocked down.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The group has faced criticism over its stances on various issues, including the wars in Gaza and Iran.
    — Saige Miller, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Jasarevic told Semafor that WHO’s $115 million budget for Ebola was 80% funded, while Fleur Vernat, UNICEF’s partnerships manager in DR Congo, said her agency’s response faced a 65% funding gap.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Several kids braved the 37-foot-tall slide, their screams echoing from inside the metal tube before popping out (usually with a smile).
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
  • More than 500 people braved the brisk Sunday morning for the potluck framed by colorful balloons and red autumn leaves against a blue sky.
    — Laina Gustafson, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster