1
2
as in confronts
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 dares
Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash As the Flynn family fractures under the strain of a failing open marriage and three daughters spiraling into dangerous secrets, their small coastal town is quietly dominated by a powerful shipping magnate no one dares to question.
—
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026
The Sith, led by Darth Sidious (aka Emperor Palpatine) and Darth Vader, sit at the top of the food chain, but Maul still dares to build a criminal empire in the shadows.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Two generational voices of reggaeton teamed up and left us with a chorus that dares to overshadow everything in a packed stadium.
—Yifan Wu, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
None of us dares skip the reading, and nobody bails on the meeting.
—Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Any film that dares to cover the life of a spiritual leader will likely run right into a high level of skepticism, scrutiny, derision and, yes, even some old-fashioned acceptance.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
There's such a touching moment that Zhao essentially dares you not to cry.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Where do the lines get drawn—and who dares to cross them?
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
This season dares us to decide if their hookup is a betrayal or the most honest thing either of them have done all series.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 18 Dec. 2025
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026
The Sith, led by Darth Sidious (aka Emperor Palpatine) and Darth Vader, sit at the top of the food chain, but Maul still dares to build a criminal empire in the shadows.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Two generational voices of reggaeton teamed up and left us with a chorus that dares to overshadow everything in a packed stadium.
—Yifan Wu, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
None of us dares skip the reading, and nobody bails on the meeting.
—Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Any film that dares to cover the life of a spiritual leader will likely run right into a high level of skepticism, scrutiny, derision and, yes, even some old-fashioned acceptance.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
There's such a touching moment that Zhao essentially dares you not to cry.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Where do the lines get drawn—and who dares to cross them?
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
This season dares us to decide if their hookup is a betrayal or the most honest thing either of them have done all series.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dares
Verb
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The lawsuit challenges 36 boat strikes since September that killed at least 126 people, the first legal case to question their legality under international law.—
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
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When so much of what’s wrong in the world is the narrowing and shrinking of our moral circles, a movement that effectively challenges that has to do the opposite.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Enoch confronts the celestial hosts, all wearing capes of swastika red under an oppressive horizon of jutting lightning and glaring orange mountains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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The darkly comedic drama confronts reality, privacy, and the delusions fueling our ever-changing world.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The designation has since been renewed multiple times as the country faces a host of crises, including widespread violence by armed gangs, food insecurity, displacement and a leadership vacuum after the president was assassinated in 2021.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
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As is customary when any White House official faces heat, discussion of potential replacements has been rampant.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dares. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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