1
2
as in confronts
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 dares
Continue reading … MAP WARS HEAT UP — DeSantis dares Hakeem Jeffries to visit Florida after 'f-around and find out' taunt.
—
FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
And there’s that quesadilla negro with the squid-ink tortilla and the short rib and the green goddess, the quesadilla that dares you to call it bar food.
—Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Apr. 2026
Love dares us to come to the table.
—Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
People demand consistent application of laws that are riddled with subjective anomalies, then bemoan a lack of common sense whenever an official dares to interpret a rule too literally.
—Graham Scott, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
And maybe one of those records was… The bard of New England dares to get meaningful on this two-part song, which begins by pondering the mysteries of time and ends with a singalong ode to seasonal renewal.
—Brett Milano, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
This month, the cosmos dares you to do things differently, so trust your instincts and embrace the momentum.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s Cabinet meetings might as well be filmed in North Korea what with the obsequious pandering before one of them dares speak.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Her legacy indeed lives on in Definitely Thriving, a book which dares to treat the small canvas of an ordinary woman’s experience with seriousness and respect, all the while maintaining that necessary sense of humor which makes the whole thing—life itself—mostly bearable.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
And there’s that quesadilla negro with the squid-ink tortilla and the short rib and the green goddess, the quesadilla that dares you to call it bar food.
—Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Apr. 2026
Love dares us to come to the table.
—Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
People demand consistent application of laws that are riddled with subjective anomalies, then bemoan a lack of common sense whenever an official dares to interpret a rule too literally.
—Graham Scott, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
And maybe one of those records was… The bard of New England dares to get meaningful on this two-part song, which begins by pondering the mysteries of time and ends with a singalong ode to seasonal renewal.
—Brett Milano, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
This month, the cosmos dares you to do things differently, so trust your instincts and embrace the momentum.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s Cabinet meetings might as well be filmed in North Korea what with the obsequious pandering before one of them dares speak.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Her legacy indeed lives on in Definitely Thriving, a book which dares to treat the small canvas of an ordinary woman’s experience with seriousness and respect, all the while maintaining that necessary sense of humor which makes the whole thing—life itself—mostly bearable.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dares
Verb
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Speaking with the Tribune on Monday, Talley’s mother, Tamika Vaughen, said her son has been in and out of treatment facilities and medicated for mental health challenges his entire life.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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The book, along with the show and 50 artists, really challenges old notions of what textile is.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Jackson Five find success; then, in the late seventies, the adult Michael (played, with extraordinary flair, by Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew) seeks a solo career—and confronts Joe’s domineering maneuvers.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Moments after arriving, Donaldson confronts the driver, who was still inside the car; the officer ends up being pulled into DeSouza’s getaway car by the force of acceleration, while attempting to reach in and pull him out.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bristy has not been found as of Saturday, but the suspect faces two murder counts.—
Robert McGreevy , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, the investigative outlet Inkyfada faces a court hearing May 11 as authorities pursue the dissolution of Al Khatt, the association that publishes it.—
Ghaya ben Mbarek,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dares. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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