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
The few Alawite religious leaders who dared to remain in Aleppo and resist were captured, impaled on metal spikes, and displayed in public squares.
—
Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026
Lough, 46, might not have dared to commission an engineer in India to create a Sam Bot if Altman, 40, hadn't given him the idea with OpenAI's audacious release of a chatbot that sounded like actress Scarlett Johansson.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Baylor was determined to make Miles a scorer, according to head coach Nicki Collen, and when Miles was involved in pick-and-roll action, Baylor defenders went underneath the screen and dared Miles to take jumpshots.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2026
So Love Is Blind’s villain twist dared viewers to go back and review the tape.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Stasevska was born in 1984, the same year that Glass’ hypnotic, ritualistic opera, about an Egyptian pharaoh who dared to push monotheism onto his polytheistic culture, debuted in Stuttgart, Germany.
—Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
In the late 1970s, these groups launched a campaign of terrorist bombings and assassinations mainly targeting Cuban Americans who dared speak out in favor of rapprochement with their homeland.
—William M. Leogrande, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
There are big challenges and big moves already, with perennial fan-favorite Cirie Fields, 55, making her strategic prowess known on the first vote, ousting Season 1 returnee Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, who dared to go after the 5-time competitor.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Because she was believed to be so evolved, no one dared challenge her authority.
—Blair Glaser, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026
Lough, 46, might not have dared to commission an engineer in India to create a Sam Bot if Altman, 40, hadn't given him the idea with OpenAI's audacious release of a chatbot that sounded like actress Scarlett Johansson.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Baylor was determined to make Miles a scorer, according to head coach Nicki Collen, and when Miles was involved in pick-and-roll action, Baylor defenders went underneath the screen and dared Miles to take jumpshots.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Feb. 2026
So Love Is Blind’s villain twist dared viewers to go back and review the tape.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Stasevska was born in 1984, the same year that Glass’ hypnotic, ritualistic opera, about an Egyptian pharaoh who dared to push monotheism onto his polytheistic culture, debuted in Stuttgart, Germany.
—Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
In the late 1970s, these groups launched a campaign of terrorist bombings and assassinations mainly targeting Cuban Americans who dared speak out in favor of rapprochement with their homeland.
—William M. Leogrande, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
There are big challenges and big moves already, with perennial fan-favorite Cirie Fields, 55, making her strategic prowess known on the first vote, ousting Season 1 returnee Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, who dared to go after the 5-time competitor.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Because she was believed to be so evolved, no one dared challenge her authority.
—Blair Glaser, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
Verb
-
Buffalo continued on the power play after Pittsburgh unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
But the surging inflation, lack of a large base of consumers with high disposable incomes, and low broadband access that have challenged other African streaming services have stifled Showmax’s ambitions.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Advertisement The stakes were incredibly high as both parties confronted questions about identity, Trumpism, Texas’ soul, and, yes, electability.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
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The prosecutor alleged that Abril confronted the couple, at which point James MacEgan was shot and killed, before Abril grabbed MacEgan’s wife and pulled her into the creek.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Open the door to the Chamber, and you're faced with a sink, a vanity, two wardrobes, and two frosted-glass doors, behind which are a shower and a toilet.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The project was revived in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson but faced strong opposition from environmentalists, including Marjorie Harris Carr, the barge canal’s most vocal critic.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Christopher Carl, a 29-year-old medical student nearing graduation, was among those who braved the afternoon heat to go cast a ballot.—
From Staff Reports,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
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The warm-up will be welcomed by many New Yorkers who’ve braved an often cold and snowy winter.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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