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I would say, Dandelion (Krigia sp.), but they aren't native everywhere in the US. If you live in an area where they aren't found, the seed could have come along as a "hitchhiker" with another plant. If it is a Dandelion and sets seed, you will never rid them from your property!
My opinion, get rid of it now. It probably has a long tap root, so some effort will be required to remove every tiny bit of that.
Rb

i don't know, but it started probably last autumn, and this is how big it is now. so it is definitely taking too long to grow. that is not like regular dandelion.

Looks like a thistle.

I would consider it to be a weed.

Yes, looks like the start of a thistle.

Josh

it could be thistle, i wonder what the flower will look like.

what if i don't cut it now? what worst can happen?

It'll grow up and flower and you'll have a better chance of identifying it. Then, if you want, you can cut off the flower before it goes to seed and you can dig up the root.

The worst that can happen?.....Well, whenever I go to get rid of the numerous thistles that find there way into my yard I end up getting some of the tiny prickles into my skin. Sometimes they go right through gloves. And sometimes they stay in the gloves and get into my skin later and make me want to get rid of otherwise very good garden gloves. The prickles are so small I can not remove them like a sliver, can't even see them. But they can hurt whenever there is pressure on the finger during the next week or so. I now have a Weed Witch (think that is the brand name) that is a long handle with a screwlike blade on the end. I can twist the thistles out and then grab them with tongs to get rid of them. With that method I can usually avoid a week of prickles in the fingers. I like thistle flowers but I HATE removing thistle plants....and I don't even want to think about the hidden ones that I have stepped on when walking barefoot in the yard. Almost bad enough to keep me in shoes all summer long.

I don't know if it will work for you but a good thick layer of fingernail polish on the spot. Then peel the polish off. The prickles came out with the polish unless you have rubbed them deeper in the skin.

You might want to put a dab of polish on your skin to make certain you have no reaction before it is time to face the beasties.