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
The NikeSkims Rift Mesh Sneakers officially passed my ultimate litmus test for comfort.
—
Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
That should be the litmus test.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Since the Middle Ages, this festival of uninhibited revelry and role reversals has provided the ultimate litmus test for what is and isn’t considered socially acceptable.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2026
But the results of the straw poll, an informal litmus test of opinion, may not necessarily accurately predict the party's presidential nominee for 2028, long before campaigning formally kicks off.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for litmus test
Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026
That should be the litmus test.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 11 Apr. 2026
Since the Middle Ages, this festival of uninhibited revelry and role reversals has provided the ultimate litmus test for what is and isn’t considered socially acceptable.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2026
But the results of the straw poll, an informal litmus test of opinion, may not necessarily accurately predict the party's presidential nominee for 2028, long before campaigning formally kicks off.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for litmus test
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litmus test
Noun
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Their immediate challenge is that the ruling came down well after filing deadlines for this year’s primary elections — and in some cases, after those primary elections have been held.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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Issue One, an advocacy group tracking redistricting nationwide, said changing maps for 2026 could be difficult because many states have already held primaries and legal challenges would place significant obstacles before the general election.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Timberwolves’ chances of surviving the gauntlet of the postseason took a blow with the loss of DiVincenzo — and an injury to Anthony Edwards, too — and yet received a boon from Dosunmu.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Developers face a gauntlet of zoning rules, permitting delays, high construction costs, expensive property taxes and local political hurdles, all of which slow or shrink projects before they ever get built.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Self-translation is the acid test for one’s writing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
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The acid test of whether California is getting bang for its taxpayers’ buck is the fact that former Californians have voted with their feet in droves.—
Jim Doti,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Eventually, he would be given a fair trial by a jury of his peers.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
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But whether a potential second film would try to acknowledge the abuse allegations against Jackson, including those at the center of a 2005 trial that ended in his acquittal on all counts, is unclear.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But if President Xi does make a move, whether by mounting a full-scale attack or using his military to blockade the island, the key question will be where such actions fall on the litmus scale.—
Ned Temko,
Christian Science Monitor,
12 Sep. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Litmus test.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litmus%20test. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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