1
as in challenged
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat
I dare you to repeat that to my face! he dared his friend to race to the end of the block
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in confronted
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage
every day the old fisherman dared the elements to make his meager living
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dared
The actor infamously played Jeff, the hunky diner manager who dared to come between the show's endgame couple.
—
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
One man, Lawrence Bergreen, dared to step into the breach and write about Columbus in the way only historians of substance can.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow dared to wear them with formal clothes back then, a forward-looking approach that’s now used all the time on catwalks and in street-style looks.
—Renata Joffre, Glamour, 19 Oct. 2025
In Kenya, President William Ruto, facing increasing pressure to resign, dared his critics to oust him from office before the next elections in 2027.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Prior to 2022, the filmmaker wouldn’t have dared target such a character — to make Eqbal a metonym for the regime.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025
The Lions looked at the makeup of the Chiefs roster and dared them to make the short game effective.
—Sam McDowell 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
Roald Dahl made his career writing children’s books that dared to be mean (yes, sometimes in rather unfortunate ways).
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
The people Hamas is killing now are just like me — Palestinians who dared to speak.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
One man, Lawrence Bergreen, dared to step into the breach and write about Columbus in the way only historians of substance can.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow dared to wear them with formal clothes back then, a forward-looking approach that’s now used all the time on catwalks and in street-style looks.
—Renata Joffre, Glamour, 19 Oct. 2025
In Kenya, President William Ruto, facing increasing pressure to resign, dared his critics to oust him from office before the next elections in 2027.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Prior to 2022, the filmmaker wouldn’t have dared target such a character — to make Eqbal a metonym for the regime.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025
The Lions looked at the makeup of the Chiefs roster and dared them to make the short game effective.
—Sam McDowell 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
Roald Dahl made his career writing children’s books that dared to be mean (yes, sometimes in rather unfortunate ways).
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
The people Hamas is killing now are just like me — Palestinians who dared to speak.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
Verb
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Changes to the regulatory framework and fleet incentives further challenged the business, Barra also said.—
Jackie Charniga,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
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The Florida compact was quickly challenged by West Flagler Associates, a company that owns casinos and racetracks in Florida.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When confronted, the student reportedly denied it but refused to provide the staffer with his backpack, according to the complaint.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
28 Oct. 2025
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The school called my mom, who confronted the teacher.—
Erin Silvia,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The president and his party have faced three corruption scandals this year, while Argentina’s slowing economy and frustration with high unemployment rates helped push Milei’s approval to the lowest level of his term ahead of the vote.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
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Waupun Correctional Institution has also faced a series of deaths among those incarcerated there in recent years and is now under investigation by federal officials over how drugs and contraband were smuggled inside.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On October 14, the The Morning Show actor braved the brisk New York City weather in a light gray wool coat, which appears to be the Margot jacket from Max Mara.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
18 Oct. 2025
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Armed with their boom boxes and cassette tapes, the boys braved the stench and recorded songs.—
Jeff Pearlman,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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