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
Beyond the specifics of each hearing, however, the process overall will be a litmus test for the incoming Trump administration.
—
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
Madison Square Garden will always be a litmus test for WWE.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
The Gators are one of the SEC's weakest teams, so Sunday's game was a poor litmus test for whether this lineup can work in the NCAA Tournament.
—Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Britain’s handling of its involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade is seen by many observers as a litmus test for the Commonwealth’s adaptation to a modern-day world.
—Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for litmus test 
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
Madison Square Garden will always be a litmus test for WWE.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
The Gators are one of the SEC's weakest teams, so Sunday's game was a poor litmus test for whether this lineup can work in the NCAA Tournament.
—Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Britain’s handling of its involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade is seen by many observers as a litmus test for the Commonwealth’s adaptation to a modern-day world.
—Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for litmus test
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litmus test
Noun
-
The order is almost certain to face legal challenges.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
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The former Kentucky Democratic Party chair was convicted in 2018 over contributions made through a corporation to his daughter Alison Lundergan Grimes in her 2014 challenge against Sen. Mitch McConnell.—
Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports,
arkansasonline.com,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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What Mayorkas is sure of is that the incoming administration, despite its rhetoric, will face the same gauntlet of challenges that burdened his team.—
Michael Wilner,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2025
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Keeping his leads separated for most of the runtime, Polish runs them through gauntlets of knife fights, fist fights, gun fights, rocket fights and more.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Liverpool passed acid tests in Milan and Manchester, and are perfect from six Champions League games, only conceding once.—
Liam Tharme,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
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That was the acid test that our music was acceptable.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
22 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Her litmus to make sure these moments were successful?—
William Earl,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2025
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One of the best was the part about enjoying the season and not making playoff success your litmus for hockey fandom happiness.—
Murat Ates,
The Athletic,
25 Nov. 2024
Noun
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During the 1973 oil embargo, Congress enacted a year-round DST trial to save fuel, but it was revoked in 1975 due to safety concerns over dark winter mornings.—
Maria Sokolina,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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In 2023, his case against another tabloid group, Mirror Group Newspapers, went to trial.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN,
22 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Litmus test.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litmus%20test. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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