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 Thor would have dared the rioters to come closer, then kicked their collective butts. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 President Ronald Reagan dared wear brown suits, and he was declared fashion-forward. Robin Givhan, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026 By contrast, Hamas’ strategy was to put its own civilians in harm’s way by building a tunnel system under cities that dared Israel to kill civilians in order to get to Hamas’ warriors. Daniel Kolkey, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2026 Many a middle-schooler has had to play tetherball, but how many dared to add bees to the mix? Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026 When Guggenheim summoned contestants to the starting line on the first day of June outside City Hall in Manhattan, only four car companies – Acme, Ford, Shawmut, and Itala – dared to show up. Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026 This is far from the first time the model has dared to share a playful nude moment on social media. Meg Walters, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026 The pair found that the earliest someone dared to grow it in Florida was in the 1920s, when rare fruit collector Wallace Johnston took a stab. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 Even so, a generally militant atmosphere prevailed, and few dared admit to harboring more conservative views. Literary Hub, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
Verb
  • At the time, Bishop was a 30-year incumbent who was being challenged by Republican developer Chris West in southwest Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District.
    Tamar Hallerman, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike York, Kraft challenged the charges, arguing that the evidence against him was inadmissible.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Democrats face fundraising disadvantages compared with Republicans, along with financial debt, and Martin has confronted criticism over his stewardship of the party.
    Mike Catalini, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Their songs confronted rape culture, body shaming and the politics of gender while making room for queerness, friendship and collective strength — subjects that, as the band now sees it, remain painfully current.
    SPIN Staff, SPIN, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Lionel Messi returned to Subaru Park Wednesday night, drawing fans from across the region as Inter Miami CF faced the Philadelphia Union.
    Eva Andersen, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • According to some reports, travelers have faced long lines and even missed connecting flights as airports deal with growing pains during the transition to biometric kiosks.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Herlacher braved the falling debris and panicked people running through the streets to help her and was horrified to find the fragment had cut through her back.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Fans braved the heat to catch the quintet’s 3 pm performance.
    Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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