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
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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