as in gauntlets
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 tests
Under the new rules, peer review is optional, while ideological litmus tests are standard.
—
ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025
ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litmus tests
challenges
Noun
-
Funding challenges often hamper business growth and expansion.—
La Risa R. Lynch,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
His challenges intensify this week at home against USC.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Litmus tests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litmus%20tests. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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