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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dared
Nobody around dared speak or shout.
—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
That was the term widely used against social critics, artists, novelists—anyone in Austria who dared to be too critical of the country after the Second World War.
—
William Finnegan,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
This electrifying new production celebrates the women who dared to be bold, courageous, and wholly themselves—and in doing so, became truly iconic.
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 June 2026
And then a Mexican reporter dared to mention Lionel Messi.
—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
So before, this was a police state—and the only benefit of that was no one dared to commit crimes, particularly against a foreigner.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Not quite — the Adventist Development and Relief Agency dared to dream even bigger in 2024 with a 107-by-64-foot colossus assembled in Chile that holds the record to this day.
—
Anusha Praturu,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
No Utah newspaper dared to run the stories, the pair said.
—
ABC News,
10 June 2026
The paddock that no one had dared to demolish.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
That was the term widely used against social critics, artists, novelists—anyone in Austria who dared to be too critical of the country after the Second World War.
—
William Finnegan,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
This electrifying new production celebrates the women who dared to be bold, courageous, and wholly themselves—and in doing so, became truly iconic.
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 June 2026
And then a Mexican reporter dared to mention Lionel Messi.
—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
So before, this was a police state—and the only benefit of that was no one dared to commit crimes, particularly against a foreigner.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Not quite — the Adventist Development and Relief Agency dared to dream even bigger in 2024 with a 107-by-64-foot colossus assembled in Chile that holds the record to this day.
—
Anusha Praturu,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
No Utah newspaper dared to run the stories, the pair said.
—
ABC News,
10 June 2026
The paddock that no one had dared to demolish.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
Verb
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Jan Paul van Hecke of the Netherlands has been involved in two scraps already, the latest when he was hit while going for a header and crumbled, perhaps exaggerating a tad, after Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi challenged the header, as well.
-
Eight groups challenged the department’s definition in court, representing nurse practitioners, therapists, speech language pathologists and more.
Verb
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Once inside, she’s confronted by Tommy (James Eddie), who stupidly grabs her to escort her out.
-
In September 2025, Kiara Jenkins was preparing to leave for a trip to Atlanta with friends when Eddie Jenkins showed up at her home dressed all in black with his hood up and confronted her about the trip, prosecutors said.
Verb
-
The governor faced mass backlash from activists across the country for his office's statement.
-
Despite the widespread support in the Assembly, the bill faced a wide array of opposition that included trade groups for large social media companies, organizations that support young people and advocates for digital privacy.
Verb
-
Powell was one of scores of Taylor Swift fans and inquisitive passersby who braved the New York City heat Thursday to satiate their curiosity about what many are calling the wedding of the century and the American equivalent of royal nuptials.
-
In the midst of a Wembley Stadium residency, the singer braved the London heatwave in his beloved white Xanax tee over a white long-sleeve, and stayed consistent with his white Vans and outsized Jacques Marie Mage aviators.
Cite this Entry
“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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