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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
After Knull’s fall, Hela is imprisoned in the An'Hay-Zhidi, where Dizang—Devil of the Eighth City—dares her to atone for her sins.
—
Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
When the murder of 100,000 people, many of them women and children, is mentioned or denounced, or when someone dares to use terms such as genocide, ethnocide, ethnic cleansing or similar, most people choose to take issue with the characterization, quibbling over semantics.
—Uriel Kon
september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Kotevska’s fine film dares to hope not.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
And yet, here is a movie that dares to explore its inception.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025
Neither dares contemplate what horrors their rival might visit upon them with that kind of strength.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has become a weapon aimed at anyone who dares dissent.
—Christopher Bouzy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
But the vote dares Senate Democrats to oppose GOP priorities and risk a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday, as the nation faces economic uncertainty and stocks markets wobble.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
In season three’s third episode, Belinda, trading in Maui for Thailand as part of a higher learning program, dares to confront the man who arranged for the murder of Tanya McQuoid, the character played by Jennifer Coolidge in seasons one and two.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2025
Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
When the murder of 100,000 people, many of them women and children, is mentioned or denounced, or when someone dares to use terms such as genocide, ethnocide, ethnic cleansing or similar, most people choose to take issue with the characterization, quibbling over semantics.
—Uriel Kon
september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Kotevska’s fine film dares to hope not.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
And yet, here is a movie that dares to explore its inception.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025
Neither dares contemplate what horrors their rival might visit upon them with that kind of strength.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has become a weapon aimed at anyone who dares dissent.
—Christopher Bouzy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
But the vote dares Senate Democrats to oppose GOP priorities and risk a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday, as the nation faces economic uncertainty and stocks markets wobble.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025
In season three’s third episode, Belinda, trading in Maui for Thailand as part of a higher learning program, dares to confront the man who arranged for the murder of Tanya McQuoid, the character played by Jennifer Coolidge in seasons one and two.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dares
Verb
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The Trades as a Leadership Classroom Tradespeople face complex, high stakes challenges every day.—
Dan Ringo,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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A student at the center of high-profile Supreme Court challenges to bans on transgender athletes on female sports teams wants the court to drop her case.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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By turning plastic into poetry, the project not only gives voice to community expression but also confronts the urgent issue of waste.—
Jonel Juste,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
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As Mars confronts Jupiter, the world is your oyster!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Now, a grown-up Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) faces new and familiar frights after her equally goth daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), opens a portal to the Netherworld and reawakens everyone's favorite pinstriped ghost.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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The massive compensation offer comes as Tesla faces one of its worst sales streaks, with its stock falling 16% this year, driven by rising competition, government cuts to EV subsidies, and Musk’s polarizing politics.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dares. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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