daunt

verb

ˈdȯnt 

ˈdänt

daunted; daunting; daunts

transitive verb

: to lessen the courage of : cow, subdue

obstacles that would have daunted a man of less intrepid mind

—Adeline Adams

Synonyms

• chill
• demoralize
• discourage
• dishearten
• dismay
• dispirit
• frustrate
• unman
• unnerve

Choose the Right Synonym for daunt

dismay, appall, horrify, daunt mean to unnerve or deter by arousing fear, apprehension, or aversion.

dismay implies that one is disconcerted and at a loss as to how to deal with something.

dismayed at the size of the job

appall implies that one is faced with that which perturbs, confounds, or shocks.

I am appalled by your behavior

horrify stresses a reaction of horror or revulsion.

was horrified by such wanton cruelty

daunt suggests a cowing, disheartening, or frightening in a venture requiring courage.

a cliff that would daunt the most intrepid climber

Examples of daunt in a Sentence

the raging inferno didn't daunt the firefighters for a moment

Recent Examples on the Web

Cal Fire has issued a red flag warning for the region, which is at risk of extreme wildfires fueled by daunting Santa Ana winds, low humidity and critically dry fuels. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025

Never one to be daunted by what people might think, Lil Jon entered the holiday-song fray in 2018 with this thrashy holiday-party starter. —Maura Johnston, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024

Neither demanding games nor 3D rendering apps can daunt it. —PCMAG, 11 Dec. 2024

The European experience reveals concerning trends: new market entrants face daunting regulatory hurdles, smaller companies struggle with disproportionate compliance costs, and innovation slows as companies prioritize regulatory alignment over development. —Roomy Khan, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French danter, daunter, from Latin domitare to tame, frequentative of domare — more at tame

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

daunt

verb

ˈdȯnt 

ˈdänt

: to lessen the courage of : make afraid