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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of litmus test
Read: The Rehearsal is a litmus test for cruelty
At first, Nathan appears deeply committed to helping pilots—except that his commitment veers into the absurd almost immediately.
—
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Social litmus tests with symbolic content and interactive experiments in engagement psychology are not the solution.
—Eric Crosby, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Toronto’s proposed urban project, Sidewalk, haunts both the city and the developers, and is a litmus test for cognitive technology use, as issues surrounding privacy and data contributed greatly to its abandonment.
—Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Biden's cognitive decline has become the defining litmus test for Democrats now jockeying to inherit a party still reeling from Trump's return to the White House.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for litmus test
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
Social litmus tests with symbolic content and interactive experiments in engagement psychology are not the solution.
—Eric Crosby, Artforum, 1 May 2025
Toronto’s proposed urban project, Sidewalk, haunts both the city and the developers, and is a litmus test for cognitive technology use, as issues surrounding privacy and data contributed greatly to its abandonment.
—Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Biden's cognitive decline has become the defining litmus test for Democrats now jockeying to inherit a party still reeling from Trump's return to the White House.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for litmus test
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litmus test
Noun
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The move to release a cookbook mirrors Lovato's knack for diving into, rather than shying away from, the defining challenges of life in the public eye.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
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The governor’s announcement mirrors attempts by other states to reshape their health, with Stitt saying Oklahoma faces the same challenge in combating childhood obesity across the United States.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Ninja Gaiden Photo: Courtesy of Nintendo The ’80s were the golden age for video-game difficulty, and the NES boasted an oppressive gauntlet of Battletoads, Contra, and the early Mega Man games.—
Luke Winkie,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
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As the morning trickled on, fans lined up in a gauntlet outside the bar, hopefully keeping watch for golf carts from Las Olas Isles.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2025
Noun
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This is the real acid test for these insurance companies.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 May 2025
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Liverpool passed acid tests in Milan and Manchester, and are perfect from six Champions League games, only conceding once.—
Liam Tharme,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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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
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Her litmus to make sure these moments were successful?—
William Earl,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Since then, the defense has filed multiple pretrial motions, including their request to move the trial due to publicity.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2025
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Abrego Garcia’s lawyers filed an emergency request Thursday to a federal judge in Maryland to order the government to take Abrego Garcia to that state upon release, an arrangement that would prevent his deportation before trial.—
Ben Finley,
Fortune,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Litmus test.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litmus%20test. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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