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
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
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
After making a wild joke about Cardi B's breasts during the San Antonio Spurs–New York Knicks game on Monday night, the NBA legend dared ESPN to fire him.
—
Marina Watts,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 June 2026
The paddock that no one had dared to demolish.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Someone else dared someone else to be a legend.
—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Two weeks ago, Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard dared the SEC and Big Ten to do it.
—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
In those pages, Fiedler dared to argue that many of America’s boyish and putatively innocent classics are in fact fantasies of interracial, homosexual romance.
—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
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
After making a wild joke about Cardi B's breasts during the San Antonio Spurs–New York Knicks game on Monday night, the NBA legend dared ESPN to fire him.
—
Marina Watts,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 June 2026
The paddock that no one had dared to demolish.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Someone else dared someone else to be a legend.
—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Two weeks ago, Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard dared the SEC and Big Ten to do it.
—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
In those pages, Fiedler dared to argue that many of America’s boyish and putatively innocent classics are in fact fantasies of interracial, homosexual romance.
—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
Verb
-
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has challenged six regional grid operators to justify or overhaul their connection rules for massive electricity users, like AI data centers, within 60 days.
-
For most leagues, this would be an open-and-shut case; a ban from the sport would never be challenged.
Verb
-
The victim alleged that a short time later, the suspect confronted her again in the parking lot of a Family Dollar store, according to the police report.
-
Officers confronted the man, who fled to Sonic and damaged a cash register in his attempt to evade capture, the report stated.
Verb
-
Boyd, a fourth-generation farmer and longtime civil rights advocate, said generations of Black farmers have faced barriers accessing government loans and agricultural assistance programs.
-
During the 2024 school board elections, 27 of 47 prospective candidates faced objections, many of them from CTU, and more than a dozen were ultimately knocked off the ballot.
Verb
-
Fans in attendance braved the early heat and were rewarded with a cool breeze and the sunset in the background to set the stage for a game the entire world had their eyes on.
-
An international crowd of 67,966 people braved the hot Santa Clara sun to watch Switzerland face Qatar in the Bay Area’s World Cup opener at Levi’s Stadium.
Cite this Entry
“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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