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 Raptors dared Mitchell to shoot early, with the former Raptors guard scoring the Heat’s first seven points and nine of the team’s first 12.
—
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Readers thought that was too easy and dared me to try something more difficult.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
On the British side of the Pond, however, no government has dared to do worse things to the BBC than moan about it.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
On the British side of the Pond, however, no government has dared to do worse things to the BBC than moan about it.
—Max Hastings, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
But Cal Baptist closed that curtain and dared someone else — anyone else — to score a bucket.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Hadi sometimes emerged to buy provisions or to visit his friends, who occasionally dared to gather in kitchens, on rooftops, or in basement shelters.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Putin does not respect his voters and does not want to listen to them, Remeslo wrote, adding that the Russian leader has wiped out opposition, and that anyone who has dared to speak out is either in exile or dead.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Jayden Bogle and James Justin even dared to offer an attacking threat down the flanks in the 5-3-1 shape Farke adopted.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Readers thought that was too easy and dared me to try something more difficult.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
On the British side of the Pond, however, no government has dared to do worse things to the BBC than moan about it.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
On the British side of the Pond, however, no government has dared to do worse things to the BBC than moan about it.
—Max Hastings, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
But Cal Baptist closed that curtain and dared someone else — anyone else — to score a bucket.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
Hadi sometimes emerged to buy provisions or to visit his friends, who occasionally dared to gather in kitchens, on rooftops, or in basement shelters.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Putin does not respect his voters and does not want to listen to them, Remeslo wrote, adding that the Russian leader has wiped out opposition, and that anyone who has dared to speak out is either in exile or dead.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Jayden Bogle and James Justin even dared to offer an attacking threat down the flanks in the 5-3-1 shape Farke adopted.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
Verb
-
The Huskies rarely had been challenged all season, routing their Big East opponents by record margins.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Looming lawsuit Part of that confusion is because the program itself is currently being challenged in court.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Chirino, a cop of four years, had confronted Banegas, who was on a bicycle breaking into cars when Chirino tried to arrest him, prosecutors say.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
McIntyre confronted him in the bathroom.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the third inning Rocker was faced with runners on the corners with Spencer Steer up to bat with two outs, and Rocker retired the left fielder in three pitches, ending with a ground out to third base to escape the inning with no damage.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
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First-year manager Kurt Suzuki said the pitchers the Angels have faced are part of the issue.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But many Syrian Kurds — as well as Kurds from Iran and Turkey — braved the risk of rockets and torrential rain to come to Akre to participate in this key expression of Kurdish identity.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
21 Mar. 2026
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The Statesman braved the wind and 30-degree temperature swings for seven straight days.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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