dare

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. t. face, defy, challenge, brave; venture upon or into. See defiance, courage, rashness.

II

(Roget's IV) v.

1. [To be courageous]

Syn. venture, take a chance, hazard, chance, brave, risk, presume, adventure, undertake, stake, attempt, endeavor, try, try one's hand, be not afraid, be bold enough to undertake, make bold, despite danger, have the courage of one's convictions, go through fire and water, take heart, nerve oneself, gather courage, muster courage, put up a bold front, go ahead, take the bull by the horns*, shoot the works*, have the nerve, have the guts*; see also chance 2 , risk , try 1 .

Ant. avoid*, dread, fear.

2. [To defy]

Syn. challenge, meet, confront, front, provoke, oppose, disregard, brave, cope, scorn, outdare, insult, resist, threaten, spurn, denounce, bully, mock, laugh at, offer defiance to, assume a fighting attitude, square off, stand up to, face up to, throw down the gauntlet, outbrazen, outbrave, show fight, call one's bluff, look full in the face, double the fist at*, call out*, pluck by the beard*, look big*, kick against*, put one's foot down*, bell the cat*, beard the lion in his den*, face the music*, measure swords with*; see also face 1 .

Ant. avoid*, flee, back down.

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) v.

1. venture gamble, risk, brave, hazard, face, brook, adventure, *run the gauntlet, have the nerve.

2. defy challenge, beard, face, oppose, square off, mock, throw down the gauntlet, look in the eye, provoke, confront, taunt.

ANT.: 1. pass, beg off, retreat. 2. run away, retreat, knuckle under, *blink

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I verb 1. To have the courage to put forward, as an idea, especially when rebuff or criticism is likely: hazard, presume, pretend, venture. See TRY. 2. To call on another to do something requiring boldness: challenge, defy. Idiom: throw down the gauntlet. See REQUEST. 3. To confront boldly and courageously: beard, brave, challenge, defy, face, front. Idioms: fly in the face of, snap one's fingers at, stand up to, thumb one's nose at. See RESIST. II noun An act of taunting another to do something bold or rash: challenge. See REQUEST.