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
At this stage, Giggles is less an anomaly and more a litmus test for how AI is transforming digital entrepreneurship.
—
Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
But Gaza’s fate is a litmus test for whether human rights actually mean anything to the Western world.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 30 July 2025
Here’s another warning for Springfield: The growing public dismay over power bills should be a sign to policymakers that now is not the time for litmus tests and winning plaudits from activists.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2025
And finally, the ultimate litmus test: get in the water.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for litmus test
Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
But Gaza’s fate is a litmus test for whether human rights actually mean anything to the Western world.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 30 July 2025
Here’s another warning for Springfield: The growing public dismay over power bills should be a sign to policymakers that now is not the time for litmus tests and winning plaudits from activists.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2025
And finally, the ultimate litmus test: get in the water.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for litmus test
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litmus test
Noun
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The oil-rich country is plagued by corruption and relies on international aid to help feed its 11 million people – a challenge that has only grown since the Trump administration made sweeping cuts to foreign assistance.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a challenge to treat for several reasons.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Along the way, Beijing has reiterated its plans to land its cosmonauts on the Moon before 2030 for scientific exploration — squarely throwing the gauntlet Stateside, where NASA’s Artemis program also scheduled a mission to return U.S. astronauts on lunar ground around 2027.—
Ruxandra Iordache,
CNBC,
22 Aug. 2025
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Players will know when to activate the ability when the gauntlet flashes blue.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
21 Aug. 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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After the war, an international tribunal, known as the Tokyo Trial — similar to the Nuremburg trials in Germany — sentenced seven Japanese officials to death for war crimes.—
Anthony Kuhn,
NPR,
14 Aug. 2025
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Salvation Army trial focused on bring-bank collection, while the Dunelm x Salvation Army trial was on postal take-back collection.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Litmus test.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litmus%20test. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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