as in challenge
something (such as an opinion about a political or moral issue) that is used to make a judgment about whether someone or something is acceptable
The party is using attitudes about gun control as a litmus test for political candidates.
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Recent Examples of litmus test
The Super Bowl champ Seattle Seahawks are the 49ers’ litmus test.
—
Chris Biderman
march 13, Sacbee.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Unions have made autonomous trucks a litmus test for Democratic contenders in the wide-open California governor’s race.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2026
Their explanations could quickly become an electoral litmus test.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
In hindsight, that was probably designed as a litmus test ahead of the Joffrey’s permanent move to the Lyric Opera House.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for litmus test
Chris Biderman
march 13, Sacbee.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Unions have made autonomous trucks a litmus test for Democratic contenders in the wide-open California governor’s race.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2026
Their explanations could quickly become an electoral litmus test.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
In hindsight, that was probably designed as a litmus test ahead of the Joffrey’s permanent move to the Lyric Opera House.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for litmus test
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litmus test
Noun
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This innovation highlights how smart material design can overcome long-standing challenges in energy technology.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
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The challenge of weather-app creation lies both in the improbability of accurately predicting the weather and in the difficulty of designing something that works for any user, anywhere.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The beginning of the 2026 season has so far been a gauntlet for both teams in terms of the level of competition, but even more so with the schedule congestion, having played three games each in eight days.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
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The foundation of that legacy was forged in the late ’90s with 400 Degreez, an album that doubled as both a gauntlet thrown at the industry and a rallying cry that helped cement Cash Money Records as a dominant force.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The acid test of whether California is getting bang for its taxpayers’ buck is the fact that former Californians have voted with their feet in droves.—
Jim Doti,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
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This was a place and time in history of tremendous creativity that grew out of the acid test parties, the beatnik poets, and the Summer Of Love.—
Brian Halligan,
Fortune,
25 Nov. 2025
Noun
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At the time of my stay as the hotel’s first guest, the Waldorf Astoria New York was in its testing and trial phase.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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This article quotes from and is based largely on records from three lawsuits against formula manufacturers that went to trial in 2024 and are now on appeal.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But if President Xi does make a move, whether by mounting a full-scale attack or using his military to blockade the island, the key question will be where such actions fall on the litmus scale.—
Ned Temko,
Christian Science Monitor,
12 Sep. 2025
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And, of course, this is the first major litmus tense of the young and divisive Donald Trump presidency.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Litmus test.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litmus%20test. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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