DARES Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

dares

verb

present tense third-person singular of dare

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

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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

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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

Verb

Jeremy Irons co-stars as Jesuit priest Father Gabriel, who challenges Mendoza to undergo penance.

— Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
The league's filing comes as New Jersey challenges a federal appeals court ruling that favored Kalshi's position that federal commodities law overrides state gambling regulations.

— Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of challenges

Verb

The Quebec election and the approaching Alberta vote have renewed questions about Canadian unity as Carney’s government confronts Trump’s tariffs and threats against the country.

— Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Specialized sources have described the film as a work that confronts the legacy of Syria’s prison and detention system through memory, testimony, and the restoration of survivors’ voices.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of confronts

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daredevils

dares

daresaid

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“Dares.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dares. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dares

verb

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