as in gauntlets
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.
Related Words
Relevance
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 litmus tests
Under the new rules, peer review is optional, while ideological litmus tests are standard.
—
ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025
ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litmus tests
challenges
Noun
-
Beyond this, the risks to personal and business privacy posed by the unpredictable way chatbots store and handle our data are challenges that wider society will need to address.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
One of the main challenges facing the economy is the strained relationship between Beijing and Washington as disputes over technology and geopolitics mount.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Litmus tests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litmus%20tests. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share