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

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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 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 Related Stories Some locations were so remote, so unforgiving, that no one dared to film there before. Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 2026 Even so, a generally militant atmosphere prevailed, and few dared admit to harboring more conservative views. Literary Hub, 21 July 2026 Underlings were also dared to eat a cup of wasabi for a few hundred dollars. Jp Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 14 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
Verb
  • Patriarchal norms are increasingly challenged by women empowered by progressive legislation that requires half of political parties’ candidates to be women and, at least on paper, guarantees women’s access to land ownership.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Going forward, tickets that are fewer than 20 days old will be eligible to be challenged online.
    Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • When confronted with this brazen conflict of standards during last week’s special session, members of the General Assembly simply dismissed the contradiction, insisting that the law does not apply to them.
    Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Mob Piru Blood Travon Lane was at Foot Locker when a South Side Crip confronted him and took his Death Row Records necklace.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Turnout this year was lower than for the last gubernatorial primary, when Lamont faced a challenge from Bridgeport’s Joe Ganim in 2018.
    Angela Eichhorst, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial has centered on the mental health issues the 36-year-old faced after giving birth to her third child.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Crowds of dedicated diners braved the 90-degree heat to line up around the ’50s-style restaurant and took in the sights, sounds and smells of Heart’s for one last time.
    Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Indie rockers Momma also braved the rain on Saturday, delivering a strong set.
    Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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