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
With the Vikings effectively telling McCarthy not to worry about the nuances of the offense and play ball, this week will be a litmus test for the 22-year-old quarterback who has five more starts to prove himself as a starter moving forward.
—
Trevor Squire, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
One litmus test for draft stock is how a player performs against the best of the best, and Smith did not show out against Ohio State (zero pressures), Iowa (one pressure) and Oregon (two pressures and one sack).
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 26 Nov. 2025
Monday night was a litmus test for the 49ers.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
The Padres will be an interesting litmus test.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for litmus test
Trevor Squire, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
One litmus test for draft stock is how a player performs against the best of the best, and Smith did not show out against Ohio State (zero pressures), Iowa (one pressure) and Oregon (two pressures and one sack).
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 26 Nov. 2025
Monday night was a litmus test for the 49ers.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025
The Padres will be an interesting litmus test.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for litmus test
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litmus test
Noun
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The decisive opportunity—and the most formidable challenge—resides within the Gordian knot of healthcare operations.—
Sahar Hashmi,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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While the protocol was originally developed to demonstrate challenges that those on the autism spectrum have in recognizing the mental states of others, the test has since been widely applied as a measure of theory of mind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the final, Black & Alshon threw down the gauntlet, beating the top pair in three straight for gold.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Amid the gauntlet of billboards touting fast food, urgent care and gasoline, along busy Route 41 is one that stands out more than ever now.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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The azaleas will be the acid test.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Jackson, who famously won an acquittal in the murder trial of Karen Read and represented disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein, did not explain his decision to withdraw from the case.—
Matt Gutman,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Dugan was suspended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April, but continued to collect her roughly $175,000 annual salary while awaiting trial.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 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 29 Jan. 2026.
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