dared

verb

past tense of dare
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dared The pair found that the earliest someone dared to grow it in Florida was in the 1920s, when rare fruit collector Wallace Johnston took a stab. — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 Related Stories Some locations were so remote, so unforgiving, that no one dared to film there before. — Brent Lang, Variety, 21 July 2026 Even so, a generally militant atmosphere prevailed, and few dared admit to harboring more conservative views. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026 Underlings were also dared to eat a cup of wasabi for a few hundred dollars. — Jp Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 14 July 2026 House of the Dragon, from its outset, promised to pit the first-ever female heir to the Iron Throne against those who dared challenge her. — The Editors, Vulture, 10 July 2026 Members of white government clubs hassled their white neighbors into political lockstep and advertised physical and financial retribution for any Black person who dared to vote. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026 Tillman, whose right foot was bloodied before the kick because a Bosnian player stepped on it, still arced a shot over five standing Bosnians, into an unsaveable spot that keeper Nikola Vasilj almost dared Tillman to target. — Sean Gregory, Time, 2 July 2026 That idea would have seemed to them facially crazy if anyone had even dared to articulate such a bizarre thing. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dared
  1. challenged
  2. confronted
  3. faced
  4. braved
Verb
  • The states’ lawsuit follows two other lawsuits filed in The Court of International Trade in July by small businesses that also challenged the 301 tariffs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Then individuals tied to the congressman and Patty García challenged the petition signatures of Macías and Sigcho-López.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of challenged
Verb
  • The force, which is still operating below its target of 5,500 personnel, also recently conducted operations in Delmas where it was also confronted by armed groups.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Keaton allegedly confronted fans at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena who were holding signs in support of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham on Tuesday, following Cunningham's comments about transgender athletes, according to ESPN.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of confronted
Verb
  • The reef system has faced significant decline for decades due to rising water temperatures, disease and pollution.
    — Joan Murray, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Starship, which underpins Musk’s longer-term goals in space, has faced a rocky development path marred by explosive setbacks, malfunctions and delays — at a cost of $15 billion and running.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of faced
Verb
  • The sweltering weather heightened worries about the survivors as rescuers braved the heat.
    — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • Each of the butterflies above me had already braved many grueling trials.
    — Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
Definition of braved

Browse Nearby Words

dare
dared
daredevil
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Cite this Entry

“Dared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dared. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dared

Nglish: Translation of dared for Spanish Speakers

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