dares

verb

present tense third-person singular of dare
1
as in challenges
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 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

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 dares Even an ordinary staircase practically dares you to stare at it long enough to convince yourself something moved. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 There is real hope of a postseason push, with the disgusting state of the American League leaving the door open for any team that dares to play well. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 There is a collective sagging in the air, but nobody dares complain. — Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026 Around the novel’s halfway point, one of Harper’s characters dares to change, or try changing, his relationship to the Beast. — Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026 It was launched into a highly radioactive patch of low-Earth orbit where almost nothing else dares to fly. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026 It’s described that a powerful and surprisingly funny story about an unlikely community that dares to take on one of the largest institutions in the nation. — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 8 July 2026 Interest groups have capitalized on those fears, savaging any politician who dares to touch senior benefits or taxes. — Jessica Riedl, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026 More than a century later, the Chicago World's Fair remains one of the most remarkable chapters in this city's history and a powerful reminder of what can happen when a city dares to dream big. — Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 27 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dares
  1. challenges
  2. confronts
  3. faces
Verb
  • Another challenges applicants to create a social media post about a food or flavor combination they're currently obsessed with.
    — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This challenges the assumption that such behavior belongs to anyone’s true identity.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of challenges
Verb
  • As Leanne confronts more change in Season 2, like turning 60 and coming to terms with aging parents that require more care, Carol remains a blunt support system.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The song is written as a conversation with that mythic other woman, who Parton confronts here in a way that manages to come across as both extremely vulnerable and drawing on a huge reserve of strength.
    — Ed Masley, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of confronts
Verb
  • The guidance could have been even higher if not for supply constraints, as the company grapples with shortages in parts like memory, which faces a global crunch due to AI buildouts.
    — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The Little Rock School District faces declining enrollment and financial challenges.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of faces

Browse Nearby Words

daredevils
dares
daresaid
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Cite this Entry

“Dares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dares. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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