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
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
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
After hearing that Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was joining the Guardians ownership group, one Cleveland radio host dared to dream big.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
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
After hearing that Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was joining the Guardians ownership group, one Cleveland radio host dared to dream big.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
Verb
-
Even after his death a decade later, his family kept pushing for a new hearing, which was repeatedly challenged by prosecutors in all three levels of court.—
Yumi Asada,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
Incumbent Jared Moskowitz, whose district was splintered by redistricting, is being challenged by progressive candidate Oliver Larkin in the August primary.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Both tournaments brought disappointment and his reign as coach ended after being confronted at the team’s hotel in Abidjan by angry supporters.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Video of the incident shows Backs being confronted and falling backward.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The administration quickly faced several lawsuits, and the Supreme Court is deciding one of those cases right now.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
Scrutiny continues Amid the fallout of the Epstein files, some of his closest ties in the modeling world have faced new scrutiny as models and survivors have called for accountability and further reform within the industry.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
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.—
Laura A. Oda,
Mercury News,
14 June 2026
-
Hundreds of people braved the rain and thunderstorms overnight to document the take-down.—
Frank Langfitt,
NPR,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
