daunt

verb

ˈdȯnt How to pronounce daunt (audio)
ˈdänt
daunted; daunting; daunts
Synonyms of dauntnext

transitive verb

: to lessen the courage of : cow, subdue
obstacles that would have daunted a man of less intrepid mind— Adeline Adams

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
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
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.
Don't be daunted by the common misconceptions about Web3. — Nikita Sachdev, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 And though The Hunger Games is now a pop culture mainstay, both in book form and through the blockbuster movie franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence, Collins wasn't daunted by bringing a new version of the story to readers. — Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025 Many things happen as the boat flows through the rising waters, engulfing trees, sailing past mysterious statues and towers which are daunting high goals for a cat who seems to be our guide in taking in all of this. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024 The film revolves around a trip of women from different generations who form a quiet sisterhood to find their own peace amidst daunting personal and cultural issues. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for daunt

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of daunt was in the 14th century

Rhymes for daunt

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Browse Nearby Words

daunorubicin
daunt
daunting
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Daunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daunt. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

daunt

verb
ˈdȯnt How to pronounce daunt (audio)
ˈdänt
: to lessen the courage of : make afraid

More from Merriam-Webster on daunt

Nglish: Translation of daunt for Spanish Speakers

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